Let’s take a look at the top sporting events to bet on this weekend, and let’s remember that this is the last weekend with no football until February of 2027. 

1)Baseball is back as the pennant races get tighter. In the American League, Texas (57-58) will meet Baltimore (56-59) with Seattle, Cleveland, Detroit, the Orioles, Twins, and Rangers within 1.5 games of the final wild card spot. The National League is not as tight, with Arizona (61-54) trying to pull away with a 2-game lead over San Diego for the final wild card spot. 

Another big series will feature Atlanta (69-45) at the NY Yankees (64-51).  Cleveland (57-59) will face the White Sox (59-54) on the road. 

In interleague action, Houston (59-57), who leads Texas by 1.5 games in the AL West, will travel to San Diego to take on the Padres (59-56). Finally, the LA Dodgers (69-46) face Arizona (61-54) in NL West action.

The Dodgers are +160 to win the World Series, followed by the Yankees (+700), Brewers (+950) and the Braves (+950). 

2)UFC Fight Night on Saturday, August 7 from Las Vegas. The main event starts around 9pmET but probably later. The feature is a lightweight bout between Mateusz Gamrot (+120) vs. Quillan Salkilld (-142). 

3)WNBA action starts to heat up. Las Vegas (22-9) visits league-leading Minnesota (25-6) on Saturday. This features MVP Aj’a Wilson against rookie sensation Olivia Miles. Wilson is -450 to win the league’s MVP, while Miles is +700 and Caitlin Clark is +1200.

Honorable Mention:

MLS, NASCAR Iowa Corn 350 (Sunday), Grand Prix of Portland (IndyCar Series), which goes August 7-9, are other top sporting events you can bet on this weekend. 

*-odds from DraftKings

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Football starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 8 from Las Vegas, featuring Gamrot vs. Salkilld. UFC wins FOUR straight weeks. Average clients up over $7,500!
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 On Thursday night, we finally get to witness the return of the NFL in preseason form with Carolina meeting Arizona at 8pmET from Canton, Ohio, in the Hall of Fame Game

Odds: Carolina -1.5

Total: 35.5

Moneyline: Carolina -118/Arizona -103

In this matchup, we’ve got both backup quarterbacks listed as the starters. Arizona will go with third-string rookie Carson Beck against journeyman Kenny Pickett.

Trends: Underdogs of +1 to +3 have covered at a 60% clip since 2015. Since 2013, Underdogs are 8-2-1 ATS and 7-4 SU in the HOF game. 

The Carolina Panthers (8-9 SU, 10-7 ATS, 7-10 O/U) made the playoffs last season thanks to winning the NFC South over Tampa Bay (8-9) and Atlanta (8-9). They were leading the Rams in the wild card game before falling in the last minute 34-31. Coach Dave Canales helped Bryce Young live up to his potential last season, though he still has room for improvement (3,011 yards, 23 TDs, 11 INTs). He will sit this one out for the well-traveled Pickett, along with starting WR Tetairoa McMillan. The Panthers went 0-3 SU and ATS in last year’s preseason against Pittsburgh (19-10), Houston (20-3) and Cleveland (30-10). 

Injuries: Six-foot-five rookie receiver Chris Brazzell II (torn LCL) and Edge Nic Scourton (ACL) are out for the season. OT Taylor Moton (blood clots) and OT Ikem Ekwonu (knee), and DL Tershawn Wharton (neck) are out trying to rehab their injuries.

The Arizona Cardinals (3-14 SU, 6-11 ATS, 11-6 O/U) were horrific last season, and that allowed them to grab the No. 3 pick in the draft, where they took speedy RB Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame. Love will not play in this game, but that position is loaded now with Love, veteran James Conner and Tyler Allgeier in the mix. Wide receiver is a concern as Marvin Harrison Jr. hasn’t lived up to his potential. New coach Mike LeFleur has his work cut out for him. At quarterback, Jacoby Brissett takes over after a reworked contract behind a shaky offensive line. Having Love in the backfield can’t hurt, but he won’t play in this game. All eyes will be on the rookie Carson Beck, a third-round pick from Georgia. Beck should get plenty of time as he attempts to take the backup job from veteran Gardner Minshew.  The Cardinals went 2-1 SU/ATS in preseason last year.

Injuries: RB James Conner (foot) and LB Josh Sweat (knee) are out.

(odds from DraftKings)

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Football starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 8 from Las Vegas, featuring Gamrot vs. Salkilld. UFC wins FOUR straight weeks. Average clients up over $7,500!
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When it comes to betting preseason football, there’s nothing more important than having knowledge of the quarterback. But unlike the regular season, the most important position in the preseason is the backup quarterbacks. Second-string quarterbacks will get most of the action in the first half of these games, while the second half will see mostly third- and fourth-stringers.

Since there is only so much time in the day, let’s take a brief look at all 32 NFL backup quarterbacks.

Arizona: Gardner Minshew. He’s a steady veteran who has been through it all. Gets the ball out quickly. Has 47 career starts.

Atlanta Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. Looks like Tagovailoa will be the starter, as Penix is coming back from a knee injury. Tagovailoa could see some brief time this preseason. The Falcons just signed veteran Cooper Rush, who should see a lot of time this preseason. He played well at Dallas two seasons ago but struggled in Baltimore.

Baltimore: Tyler Huntley. “Snoop” fits the Baltimore offense well last season and in the past, but they have a new coordinator in Declan Doyle. Solid intermediate passer. Good athlete who can run, but not like Lamar Jackson.

Buffalo: Kyle Allen. Allen has played eight seasons and started 12 games for the Panthers in 2019. Hasn’t done much since. Does have a big arm and some mobility. Isn’t a great option if Josh Allen goes down. 

Carolina: Kenny Pickett. Pickett has 27 career starts and will get the nod on Thursday against Arizona. Doesn’t have a lot of upside, except for playing for four previous teams.

Chicago Bears: Tyson Bagent. He was undrafted in 2023, but he might be one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL. He went 2-2 as a rookie, but has three TDs and six INTs in 2023 when Justin Fields was injured.  

Cincinnati: Joe Flacco. Flacco is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback who still has the big arm and poise. His lack of mobility is a concern if he has to play long-term. It will be interesting to see how much he pays in the preseason considering his age of 41.

Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders. Who knows what this situation will be in the regular season? Sanders should improve under new coach Todd Monken after showing flashes as a rookie. But why did Kevin Stefanski have him as the third string behind Dillon Gabriel? Monken likely could play all three quarterbacks this summer, including Deshaun Watson, who hasn’t played in nearly two years.

Dallas Cowboys: Joe Milton III. Milton has a lot of tools, but he has struggled with accuracy in three preseason starts. Great arm with good size.

Denver Broncos: Jarrett Stidham. Struggled in the AFC title game, but came back to the Broncos because he has Sean Payton’s trust. He also knows his offensive concepts but has limited arm talent.

Detroit: Teddy Bridgewater. Very experienced and accurate quarterback. Former high school coach who is like a coach on the field.

Green Bay: Tyrod Taylor. A gutsy journeyman who started for three seasons with Buffalo from 2015-17 and never threw more than six picks. Also, can still run the football.

Houston: Davis Mills: Solid backup with starting experience. He did win three games last season when C.J. Stroud was out with a concussion. He’s a game-manager, which is what a defensive team like Houston needs if Stroud goes down again.

Indianapolis: Anthony Richardson Sr. Has the size (6-4, 244) and arm talent with great athletic ability. Has 15 career starts, and he might be playing for the Colts’ career. Not the most accurate QB, but some team will take a chance if Indy wants a steadier backup to Daniel Jones.

Jacksonville: Nick Mullens. It’s tough to get on the field when you are playing behind the durable Trevor Lawrence. Is a rhythm passer who can move the ball downfield. Limited athleticism. Can be turnover-prone at times.

Kansas City: Justin Fields. Nice pick up by the Chiefs in the offseason. Fields is one of the best running QBs in the league and has improved his passing. Playing for Andy Reid might be the best move he made in his career, though he won’t play in the regular season behind Patrick Mahomes.

LA Chargers: Trey Lance. Lance has not lived up to his potential, but he might be playing for Jim Harbaugh. In four seasons, Lance has six career starts with five TDs and five INTs.

LA Rams: Ty Simpson. The rookie from Alabama is expected to take over for Matthew Stafford whenever he retires. Will get tested in preseason.

Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza. The top pick in the draft will be given the keys at some point this season. In the preseason, he should get enough time to show his skills, and he does need the experience. Has all the tools.

Miami Dolphins: Quinn Ewers. He’s in a tough situation with their limited talent. Can make all the throws, but consistency has been a problem along with accuracy.

Minnesota: J.J. McCarthy. Assuming Kyler Murray is the starter, McCarthy could be one of the top backups in the game. Has first-round talent with good arm and mobility. But accuracy (57.6%) was subpar in 10 games as a starter last season. 

NY Giants: Jameis Winston. Might be the best backup in the NFL with a big arm and solid running ability. In 2019, led the league in passing yards and interceptions. 

NY Jets: Cade Klubnik. Athletic qb who can move. He can throw accurately on the move. He’s fighting with Bailey Zappe for the No. 2 job behind Geno Smith. The fourth-round pick from Clemson played 49 games during his four years there and should get plenty of time in preseason.

New England Patriots: Tommy DeVito. DeVito rose to prominence with the Giants in 2023 when he went 3-3 as a starter (8TDs/3 INTs). Is streaky as a passer and is better when teams can use his mobility to make plays outside the pocket.

New Orleans Saints: Spencer Rattler. Tyler Shough will start and that means Rattler, who lost 12 of his 13 career starts, will be the backup. Perhaps he elevates his game with less pressure, and the experience will help him produce well in the preseason.

Philadelphia Eagles: Andy Dalton. Dalton will be 39 this season, but understands his job. Has 169 career starts, but is a savvy veteran who knows his role behind Jalen Hurts.

Pittsburgh: Mason Rudolph. He has played for the Steelers for seven years, so he knows his way around the locker room. Has a 9-9-1 record in 19 career starts. But with rookie Drew Allar and second-year QB Will Howard, this could be a very interesting preseason for the Steelers with solid competition.

San Francisco 49ers: Mac Jones. Wasn’t a great starter, but with San Francisco, he’s in a solid situation with some solid weapons. He went 5-3 filling in for injured Brock Purdy last season. One of the best backups in the league.

Seattle: Drew Lock. The Super Bowl champs return Drew Lock, who struggled in five starts for the Giants in 2023. He has made 28 career starts, so he’s pretty much what you want in a backup behind Sam Darnold. Has a big arm and solid mobility. Good physical tools, but hasn’t translated into solid production.

Tampa Bay: Jake Browning. Doesn’t have great intangibles, including average arm strength at best. Struggled filling in for Joe Burrow last season. But does have starting experience.

Tennessee: Mitch Trubisky. Yes, he’s still in the league. Good athlete and experienced starter. Has 57 career starts and was a former No. 2 pick in 2017. He’s no threat to Cam Ward and should be able to help him get to the next level, because he never got there.

Washington: Marcus Mariota. The former No. 2 pick has 82 career starts and is 36-46. Still an excellent runner, though his speed isn’t what it once was, but has never been a good starter and was always limited as a pure passer.

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Football starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 8 from Las Vegas, featuring Gamrot vs. Salkilld. UFC wins FOUR straight weeks. Average clients up over $7,500!
• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
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You may hear why you should not wager on preseason football and it’s not for everyone, but there are also many benefits as we get closer to Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game (Arizona/Carolina). 

1)Oddsmakers have less information. There are so many variables, including roster battles and constantly changing depth charts, that it makes it harder to price than normal NFL games.

2)It’s all about playing time. There are just three preseason games (save for Carolina and Arizona), and coaches want to avoid serious injuries, so they will keep most starters out. Knowledge of the backups, especially the quarterbacks, is crucial to winning. 

3)First-Half bets could be the answer. Unless you have a quarterback competition (Cleveland? Atlanta?), starting quarterbacks might play a quarter at most. So it’s important to know not only the game plan, but the quality of the backup quarterback. In the second half, you’ll see mostly third and fourth-string quarterbacks. So betting first-half spreads/totals can sometimes make more sense than full-game bets. How many times have you bet a preseason game, where the game is lost in the fourth quarter because teams are playing mostly scrubs who will never play in the NFL?

4)Roster battles matter. Players who are fighting for starting jobs or roster spots have more incentive to play hard. A team with multiple competitive position battles may approach a preseason game differently from a team simply trying to get through it.

5)You can learn things in preseason. Just watch the first game, and you’ll find that new coaches (there are six) have a certain philosophy after their first game. I’d be careful about taking games where Joe Brady (Buffalo), Mike LaFleur (Arizona), Jesse Minter (Baltimore), Todd Monken (Cleveland), Klint Kubiak (Las Vegas), and Jeff Hafley (Miami) coach in their first game.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 8 from Las Vegas, featuring Gamrot vs. Salkilld. UFC wins FOUR straight weeks. Average clients up over $7,500!
• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
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It’s football week, and while we’ve gone over some of the factors of winning in preseason, team angles are nearly as important as things like quarterback rotations and almost as important as getting the game plan.

Let’s take a look at some of the hottest trends by team. Here are some key general trends from preseason.

*Totals that close at 37 have gone over 60% of the time over the last 15 years.

*Underdogs of +1 to +3 have covered 60% since 2015. 

*Road underdogs of +2.5 or less have gone 75-38 ATS over the last decade.

*-new coach this season.

Arizona: * 2-5 ATS last 7 games and 0-6-1 SU.

Baltimore: * 2-7 ATS last 9 games.

Chicago: 10-2 ATS last 12 games and 9-2-1 SU. They are also 8-4 Over last 12.

Cincinnati: 1-9-1 SU and 4-7 ATS last 11 games.

Dallas: 7-24 SU and 9-21-1 ATS since 2008. Also 19-12 Under last 31.

Detroit: 2-9 SU last 11 home games and 8-3 Over last 11 at home.

Houston: DeMeco Ryans is 1-9 Under last 10 games. The Texans are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 preseason road games.

Indianapolis: Shane Steichen is 8-1 Over in nine games. 

Kansas City: Andy Reid is 49-36-3 Over in his career.

LA Chargers: 1-9 SU and 3-7 ATS last 10 home games.

New England: 15-7 Under last 22 games.

NY Giants: John Harbaugh (all with Baltimore) was 42-21 ATS in preseason.

NY Jets: 8-2 last 10 preseason road games. 

Seattle: 9-5 Under last 14 games.

Tampa Bay: Todd Bowles is 10-21-1 O.U record.

Washington: 3-7 ATS last 10 home games. Dan Quinn 

________________________________________________________________________________________

Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 8 from Las Vegas, featuring Gamrot vs. Salkilld. UFC wins FOUR straight weeks. Average clients up over $7,500!
• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
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There will be the second-to-last weekend before football takes over from mid-August through the Super Bowl. There’s no World Cup or major tennis or golf tournaments, but there are always sports to bet on. 

1)Baseball. This weekend is bigger than just a normal first weekend of August. That’s because the trade deadline is Monday, August 3 at 6pmET. That means that there could be a major deal or two (most likely) take place this weekend that could impact games. You also might have several teams on the bubble in terms of being buyers or sellers. 

In terms of big series, we have the Yankees (61-48) at Wrigley Field to take on the Cubs (62-47), beginning Friday afternoon. The surprising White Sox (57-51) will travel to St. Pete to face another surprising team in Tampa Bay (64-44). Finally, Boston (56-51) travels to Los Angeles (68-40) to take on the LA Dodgers. Will ace Tarik Skubal get traded over the weekend? 

Right now, according to DraftKings, the Dodgers are a +190 favorite to capture their 2nd straight World Series, while the Yankees (+550) are second-favorite, followed by Milwaukee (+900).

2)UFC Fight Night emanates from Serbia on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 1pmET. It features Uros Medic (-395) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (+310). Medic is the hometown hero, while Rodriguez is looking to re-establish himself after an extended layoff. 

Another potential great matchup is Jan Blachowicz (+250) vs. Navajo Stirling (-310). 

3)Not sure there has been a tennis tournament on hard courts with more name changes than the Mubadala Citi DC Open. This has always been one of the tune-up tournaments for the U.S. Open. One of the top players left is American Taylor Fritz, who is a -236 favorite against Alex Michelson (+189). Top seed Alex de Minaur or No. 2 Ben Shelton are also still around. On the women’s side, No. 3 Naomi Osaka (-640) faces Elisabetta Cocciaretto (+445) on Friday, while No. 1 Jessica Pegula (-292) faces Anna Kalinskaya.

Honorable mention: 

Golf with the Women’s British Open being led by Jeeno Thitikul (-7) after the first round. The PGA is in Detroit, where Peter Malnati shot a 9-under 61 to tie a tournament record and leads the Rocket Classic after the first round.

There’s also Summer Slam for WWE fans if you like to bet on predetermined events, and the Premier Lacrosse League offers two games on Friday, two on Saturday, and two on Sunday with spreads, totals, and money lines.

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 1 from Serbia, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez. UFC wins three straight weeks, going 16-5! Average clients up over $5,200!
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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We’re a week away from the start of the NFL preseason with Arizona taking on Carolina in the Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio on Thursday night. Betting preseason can be profitable with the right information, but remember that like any other sport, football is a marathon, not a sprint.

In other words, bet wisely and when you start with a bankroll, with 0ver 20 weeks of regular season college and the NFL coming up, you should be conservative.

The goal is to maximize your bankroll (1-2%), before the NFL and college regular season begins. Here are some more tips.

A)Avoid chasing losses by inreasing bet size after a bad day. 

B)Be disciplined. If you have a bankroll of $500, bet 1% ($5) and 2% ($10) for strong plays. If you have $5,000, bet $50 (1 unit or 1%) and bet $100 (2 units or 2%). 

C)Start preseason with a plan. Let’s say you have $1,000. Make your standard bet $10 (1 units) and a strong play $20 (2 units). 

D)Skip days when you have no edge. It’s not worth to just guess if you have no confidence in your pick. Don’t just pick a game to be in action, because it’s preseason. 

E)Getting back to the conservatism of betting, you have to 20+ weeks to go crazy on college football and NFL regular season. Focus only on games where you have clear reason to believe the line is off and remember the line, that “few is more” is a good motto in preseason.

E)Another way to protect and increase your bankroll is to shop for the best line. Getting an extra half point or a better price can significantly improve long terms results. 

F)If you are not confident in your preseason picks (there are other options like ATS), you can bet early season future in college and the NFL including the Super Bowl, Heisman Trophy, CFP, Division winners and season win totals.

G)Keep detailed records of: 1)The closing line vs. your bet. 2)Sport. 3)Result. 4)Stake. 5)Reason for bet. 

H)Make sure you have a strong bankroll ready for Week 1 of the NFL and college football. 

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 1 from Serbia, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez. UFC wins three straight weeks! Average clients up over $5,200!
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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As mentioned in yesterday’s blog, one of the most important factors to betting on the NFL preseason is knowing the quarterback rotation. Let’s take a look at the latest qb rotations in the preseason as of July 29. Remember that most starters will see limited time, if any, in the preseason, which means a lot of 2nd and 3rd string quarterbacks will have their time to shine.

*-rookie; bold is starter. If top 2 in bold, it means they are competing for the starting job.

Arizona Cardinals:
Jacoby Brissett
Gardner Minshew
Carson Beck*
Kedon Slovis

Atlanta Falcons:
Michael Penix Jr. (inj.)
Tua Tagovailoa (inj.)
Cooper Rush
Jack Strand*

Baltimore Ravens:
Lamar Jackson
Tyler Huntley
Skylar Thompson
Joe Fagnano*

Buffalo Bills:
Josh Allen
Kyle Allen
Shane Buechele

Carolina Panthers:
Bryce Young
Kenny Pickett
Haynes King*

Chicago Bears:
Caleb Williams
Tyson Bagent
Case Keenum
Miller Moss*

Cincinnati Bengals:
Joe Burrow
Joe Flacco
Josh Johnson
Sean Clifford

Cleveland Browns:
Deshaun Watson
Shedeur Sanders
Dillon Gabriel
Taylen Green*

Dallas Cowboys 
Dack Prescott
Joe Milton III
Sam Howell

Denver Broncos:
Bo Nix
Jarrett Stidham
Sam Ehlinger

Detroit Lions:
Jared Goff
Teddy Bridgewater
Luke Altmyer*

Green Bay Packers:
Jordan Love
Tyrod Taylor
Kyle McCord
Kyron Drones*

Houston Texans:
C.J. Stroud
Davis Mills
Graham Mertz

Indianapolis Colts:
Daniel Jones
Anthony Richardson 
Riley Leonard 
Easton Stick

Jacksonville Jaguars:
Trevor Lawrence
Nick Mullens
Bradley Carter
Joey Aguilar

Kansas City Chiefs:
Patrick Mahomes
Justin Fields
Garrett Nussmeier
Chris Oladokun

Las Vegas Raiders:
Kirk Cousins
Fernando Mendoza*
Aidan O’Connel
Jacob Clark

LA Chargers:
Justin Herbert
Trey Lance
DJ Uiagalelei

LA Rams: 
Matthew Stafford
Ty Simpson*
Stetson Bennett IV
Matthew Caldwell*

Miami Dolpins:
Malik Willis
Quinn Ewers
Cam Miller
Mark Gronowski*

Minnesota Vikings:
Kyler Murray
J.J. McCarthy
Carson Wentz
Max Brosmer

New England Patriots:
Drake Maye
Tommy DeVito
Behren Morton*

New Orleans Saints:
Tyler Shough
Spencer Rattler
Zach Wilson
Hunter Dekkers

NY Giants:
Jaxson Dart
Jameis Winston
Brandon Allen

NY Jets:
Geno Smith
Cade Klubnik*
Brady Cook
Bailey Zappe

Philadelphia Eagles:
Jalen Hurts
Tanner McKee
Andy Dalton
Cole Payton*

Pittsburgh Steelers:  
Aaron Rodgers
Mason Rudolph
Will Howard
*Drew Allar

San Francisco 49ers:
Brock Purdy
Mac Jones
Adrian Martinez 
Kurtis Rourke

Seattle Seahawks:
Sam Darnold
Drew Lock
Jalen Milroe

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Baker Mayfield
Jake Browning
Connor Bazelak
Jalon Daniels

Tennessee Titans:
Cam Ward
Mitch Trubisky
Will Levis
Hendon Hooker

Washington Commanders:
Jayden Daniels
Marcus Mariota
Athan Kaliakmanis*
Sam Hartman

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 1 from Serbia, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez. UFC wins three straight weeks! Average clients up over $5,200!
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
  _____________________________________________________________________

The NFL preseason arrives on Aug. 6 with the Hall of Fame Game. Some bettors like to sit the preseason out and wait for college on Aug. 27 or the NFL regular season. If you are playing on your own, we don’t advise that you play the preseason with hesitancy. But if you are going to wager on your own, here are some tips on how to bet preseason, especially if you are a novice.

1)Let’s face it. Most starting quarterbacks sit during preseason (three games) except for maybe Patrick Mahomes.  Though that would be a serious risk with him coming off a knee injury. 

Quarterback rotations:

A)How many series will the starting QB play? The backup quarterback is likely the starting qb and usually they end up going two quarters, but things can change with each coach and each situation. 

B)Who plays the second half? Will the fourth string QB play the last quarter? Again, so many different scenarios for each team. Try and check each team’s website because many coaches will give their gameplan a day or two before the game.

C)Experienced quarterbacks usually have success against 2nd and 3rd string guys. Some are just plain bad. It’s important to know all the QBs and the rotation. *We’ll have one available this week on the blog)

2)Once again, read the comments from the head coach before the game. They can be found on the team’s website, on regular sites (ESPN, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, etc.), and in local newspapers. If you can’t get into them due to cost, there are countless blogs for each team that might have that information. SB Nation and Fan Sided are just two of the many communities out there with NFL blogs.

3)Look at quarterback competitions. In Minnesota, Kyler Murray is battling with JJ McCarthy for the starting job. It’s unlikely that Murray will play all three games with his injury history, and he doesn’t have a lot to prove, but that’s just one of the few competitions in the NFL for starting jobs. But there will be a lot of backup jobs up for grabs. In that situation, you might have one guy start a half in Game 1 and the other guy start in Game 2. It’s not fair to judge a guy facing the third string of the second half.

4)BETTING the FIRST HALF. Speaking of the first half, if you want to go out of the box instead of just betting the spread or total, try betting the first half spread or first half money line. That’s where you have most of the starters or players competing for starting jobs. The second half of most of these preseason games becomes a coin flip as third- and fourth-string guys who won’t even be on a roster (maybe practice squad), are showing why they are fringe players.

5)Always look at coaching philosophy and records (once again, stay tuned to this blog as we’ll have coaching records next week). Some coaches treat games as a regular season. Others don’t care, and they are just looking to evaluate players. Most of these gameplans are as vanilla as possible as coaches are very paranoid and don’t want to give anything away. 

6)Be very conservative with your bankroll. Bet smaller amounts than you would during the regular season because the preseason games can be volatile. Don’t chase losses, and if you don’t have an informational edge, pass on those games.

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 1 from Serbia, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez. UFC wins three straight weeks! Average clients up over $5,200!
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
  _____________________________________________________________________

 All the veterans are now expected to report this week, so NFL Training camps are officially in full swing. Let’s take a look at the latest training camp battles and key questions for each team.

Arizona Cardinals: Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Az.  QB Jacoby Brissett just signed a one-year deal after a brief holdout. That should seal the starting job. Now, the bigger question is whether new coach Mike LeFleur can find wide receivers behind Marvin Harrison. First Preseason Game: Aug. 6 vs. Panthers (HOF game). 

Atlanta Falcons: Location: Atlanta Falcons Training Facility, Flowery Branch, Ga. The Falcons are looking for a steady starting quarterback, and Michael Penix Jr. has to step up, or he will be replaced by Tua Tagovailoa, who is making just $1.3 million. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 vs. Broncos. 

Baltimore Ravens: Location: Under Armour Performance Center, Owings, Mills, Md.  The Ravens will have competition at center to replace Tyler Linderbaum, while the bigger questions will be how new OC Declan Doyle deal with QB Lamar Jackson (they are both 30. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. Eagles.

Buffalo Bills: Location: St. John Fisher University, Rochestery, N.Y.  The Bills have a new head coach in Joe Brady, but it’s the defense that will have a different look as Jim Leonhard bring a 3-4 scheme. The addition of OLB Bradley Chubb should help the Bills improve their pass rush. But is he enough? On offense, there will be competition at left gaurd between Austin Corbett and Alec Anderson. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15. vs Panthers.

Carolina Panthers:  Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC. The running back situation is a concern behind Chuba Hubard, who has veteran AJ Dillong and Jonathon Brooks behind him. The defense gets some huge additions this season including DE Jaelan Phillips and will look to improve a defense that ranked 16th overall. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at Raiders.

Chicago Bears: Location: Halas Hall, Lake Forest Ill. The biggest concern is at left tackle where Ozzy Trapilo (knee) might not be available at the beginning of the season. Braxton Jones will have to battle Jedrick Willis Jr. and Theo Benedet to earn the starting job in Week 1. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. Browns.

Cincinnati Bengals: Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati. The biggest concern is always the defense, despite the big additions including DT Dexter Lawrence. They ranked 27th in points allowed per drive last season. That must improve. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Lions. 

Cleveland Browns:  Location: CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, Berea, Ohio. Not an easy challenge for new coach Todd Monken. That’s to find the starting quarterback from Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders. Watson has played just 19 games since 2022 due to injuries and a susspension. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 at Bears. 

Dallas Cowboys: Location: Marriot Residence Inn, Oxnard, Calif.  There are potentially seven new starters on defnse as the Cowboys move to a 3-4 scheme. How good can the secondary become with stud rookie S Caleb Downs, S Jalen Thompson and CB Cobie Durant? First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 at Seahawks.

Denver Broncos: Location: Broncos Park, Englewood, Colo. The biggest question is the health of QB Bo Nix (ankle), who should be close to 100% by the start of the season. He’ll have a new receiver in Jaylen Waddle and a new OC in 31-year-old Davis Webb, to replace Joe Lombardi, who was fired two days after the AFC title game loss. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 at Falcons.

Detroit Lions: Location: Meijer Performance Center, Allen Park, Mich. The defense has the most concerns, as safety Brian Branch is coming off a late-season Achilles tear and he’s not likely to be ready for the season. Kerby Joseph (knee) was limited to six games last season. It will be crucial that they shore up the secondary in camp. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at Bengals.

Green Bay Packers: Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis. The big concern is at cornerback. They cut Nate Hobbs and used their top draft pick on second-rounder Brandon Cisse, while signing Benjamin St.-Juste. They will likely fight with Carrington Valentine for the second corner spot. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at Steelers/

Houston Texans: Location: Houston Methodist Training Center, Houston. All eyes will be on QB C.J. Stroud, who needs to improve his production, while the Texans gave him a second-round pick in WR Jayden Higgins. He’ll get the opportunity to be the No. 2 receiver to complement Pro Bowler Nico Collins.  First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Chargers.

Indianapolis Colts: Location: Grand Park, Westfield, Ind. Daniel Jones (Achilles) is expected to be full go at some point during training camp, but Achilles’ injuries must be treated with caution. At defensive end, Arden Key is expected to compete with Jaylahn Tuimoloau for the starting spot. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at Patriots.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Location: Miller Electric Center, Jacksonville, Fla. So where will second-year CB/WR Travis Hunter play more? Corner or wide receiver? At running back, Chris Rodriguez Jr. comes in as a veteran to compete with speedy Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. to replace Travis Etienne, who moved on in free agency. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 at Saints. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Location: Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Mo. Patrick Mahomes is coming off a serious knee injury, and he’s now in his thirties. He’ll need protection, and the right tackle spot is the key camp battle with Jaylon Moore competing with Kahil Benson, an undrafted player from Indiana, and Esa Pole. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. Rams.

Las Vegas Raiders: Location: Intermountain Health Performance Center, Henderson, Nev. All eyes will be on first overall pick QB Fernando Mendoza and whether he’s ready to take over QB1 with veteran Kirk Cousins signed as insurance in case he’s not. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Cardinals. 

LA Chargers: Location: The Bolt, El Segundo, Calif. The offensive line is key for the Chargers, who plan to start Jake Slaughter at left guard after playing center at Florida last season. In the secondary, the Chargers need a deep safety next to Elijah Molden in nickel. Tony Jefferson and RJ Mickens will be in the mix with rookie fourth-rounder Genesis Smith. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at Texans. 

LA Rams: Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. There are not a lot of questions for this Super Bowl favorite. One is the backup quarterback job with rookie Ty Simpson taking on Stetson Bennett. The other big question is whether Aaron Donald will come out of retirement, though that seems unlikely at this point. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 at Chiefs.

Miami Dolphins: Location: Baptist Healthy Training Complex, Miami Gardens, Fla. Where do we start? We’ll start at wide receiver with a ton of new players added and rookies competing for the No. 1 spot with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill gone. It’s not the greatest situation for new QB Malik Willis to come in. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 at Commanders. 

Minnesota Vikings: Location: TCO Performance Center, Eagan, Minn. Who will start at QB in Week 1? J.J. McCarthy is the longshot here as Kyler Murray has the experience and arm talent to thrive in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 at NY Giants.

New England Patriots: Location: Practice fields at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. Head coach Mike Vrabel has seemingly been able to get through his off-season distractions and now the focus is on Drake Maye becoming a voracious reader and WR A.J. Brown.  First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Colts.

New Orleans Saints: Location: Ochsner Sports Performance Center, Metairie, La.  QB Tyler Shough showed potential last season and should have an improved group at receiver. Chris Olave and rookie Jordyn Tyson should be a strong 1-2 duo. But after that, there should be competition for the third spot and depth. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. 49ers.  

NY Giants: Location: Quest Diagnostics Training Center, East Rutherford, NJ; The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, WVa. The Giants need QB Jaxson Dart to stay healthy, but he’s also learning a new offense under a new coaching staff. At wide receiver, Malik Nabers has star potential, but he’s coming off an injury as is RB Cam Skattebo. At corner, they’re looking for a second starter with rookie Colton Hood, Greg Newsome II and Deonte Banks competing. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. Vikings. 

NY Jets: Location: Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, Florham Park, N.J.  The Jets are looking for a future starter at QB and at least a backup to Geno Smith. Rookie Cade Klubnik and Bailey Zappe will battle it out. At corner, Nashon Wright could be pushed by Azareye’h Thomas and rookie D’Angelo Ponds. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 vs. Buccaneers.

Philadelphia Eagles: Location: Jefferson Health Training Complex, Philadelphia. Sean Mannion takes over as the new offensive coordinator. The key will be getting QB Jalen Hurts back on track and gelling with rookie WR Makai Lemon and newly added Dontayvion Wicks. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 at Ravens.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Location: Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa. Will Howard and Mason Rudolph are expected to duel for the backup QB job, with rookie Drew Allar expected to be the No. 3. The Steelers are pretty solid everywhere else with a lot of veterans, but a new coaching staff led by Mike McCarthy.  First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Packers.

San Francisco 49ers: Location: SAP Performance Center Facility, Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers need to stay healthy because they added WRs Mike Evans and Christian Kirk. There is some competition, including left guard, where Robert Jones and Connor Colby could be pushed by rookie Carver Willis. There are also questions at safety where DC Raheem Morris will have veteran Ashyn Davis as a potential candidate.  First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Titans.

Seattle Seahawks: Location: Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Renton, Wash. The Seahawks lost several key players, including RB Kenneth Walker III and OC Klint Kubiak. New OC Brian Fleury takes over and he’ll have to be patient with RB Zach Charbonnet, coming off a torn ACL in February. George Holani, rookie Jadarian Price and Emmanuel Wilson will compete for time. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. Cowboys.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Location: AdventHealth Training Center, Tampa, Fla. At corner, the Bucs have Jacob Parris, Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum vying for the starting outside jobs. With Mike Evans gone, there will be some competition with WR Ted Hurst III (6-3) hoping to fill the void. New OC Zac Robinson will have his work cut out for him. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 at NY Jets.

Tennessee Titans: Location: Vanderbilt Health Football Center, Nashville. New coach Robert Saleh brings in OC Brian Daboll to help QB Cam Ward. They’ll have a competition at center and right guard. Until they fill that, Ward will continue to have his struggles. At Mike linebacker, veteran Cody Barton is back, but Saleh could go with second-round pick Anthony Hill Jr., who has more potential. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at 49ers.

Washington Commanders: Location: Commanders Park, Ashburn, Va. Head coach Dan Quinn added a new OC (David Blough) and DC (Daronte Jones). On defense, they’ll use a 3-4 base look. The big question is who will start on the inside, with Frankie Luvu, Leon Chenal and rookie Sonny Styles competing. At running back, Jacory Croskey-Merritt will be pushed by veterans Rachaad White and Jerome Ford for playing time. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 vs. Dolphins.

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