Ricky Dimon
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We’re talkin’ about the preseason. The preseason. Fortunately this is the last time we will be doing so, as Saturday marks the penultimate day of the schedule. Sunday is the finale, on which there are only two games – so this is our final parlay of…yes…the preseason. After this, we will be focused on the real thing – the 18-week battle for the NFL playoffs and ultimately for a Super Bowl appearance and the Lombardi Trophy. That all begins on September 8 with Thursday Night Football between the Buffalo Bills and defending champion Los Angeles Rams.
But for now, here is a look at the three components of Saturday’s parlay.
Jaguars vs Falcons under 37 (-110)
Rams +2.5 (-110)
Broncos ML (-110)
Parlay odds: +596
For this play we are going one underdog on the money line, one underdog against the spread and an under. Let’s break down each of the three legs one by one.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Atlanta Falcons under 37 (-110)
A Falcons-Jaguars bet was part of Calvin Ridley’s infamous parlay during Week 12 of last season. It’s safe to say that a preseason rematch won’t garner as much betting attention – not from Ridley and not from anyone else. That being said, I do like a play on this game: the under. Jacksonville has been hopeless on offense through three preseason appearances (already three because the Jaguars played in the Hall of Fame Game against the Raiders). Head coach Doug Pederson’s squad lost to the Raiders 27-11 and then fell 24-13 to the Browns and 16-15 to the Steelers. The two most recent results were even with Trevor Lawrence getting some playing time, which won’t be the case against Atlanta.
Speaking of the Falcons, they played both Marcos Mariota and Desmond Ridder in the first two games and there really isn’t anything else head coach Arthur Smith needs to see. Mariota is the starter and Ridder, who has looked great through two weeks, is clearly a more than capable backup. Smith was content to put former QB (now TE) Feleipe Franks at quarterback in the second half against the Jets on Monday night and the Falcons promptly scored zero points after halftime. Franks will likely be back in there for a while on Saturday. Playing on only four days of rest, the Falcons aren’t going to do anything stupid with their starters.
Los Angeles Rams +2.5 over Cincinnati Bengals (-110)
The stakes aren’t quite as high this time around for Rams-Bengals. Last time, of course, was none other than the Super Bowl. Now they are squaring off with nothing more on the line than getting to the regular season without any injuries. The Bengals are 0-2 in the preseason with a 36-23 home loss to Arizona and a 25-22 road loss to the Giants. Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon and Ja’Marr Chase did not play in either of those games and they also won’t on Saturday.
Quarterbacks Brandon Allen, Jake Browning and Drew Plitt have combined for one touchdown pass through two weeks. The Rams are similarly uninterested, but they are 1-1 and +3 in point differential. QB John Wolford has NFL starting experience and Bryce Perkins is 21-of-30 for 256 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions through two games. Take L.A.
Denver Broncos ML over Minnesota Vikings (-110)
Minnesota is 0-2 in the preseason and doesn’t seem to be overly invested. The Vikings are coming off losses of 26-20 to the Raiders and 17-7 to the 49ers. There is no reason for QB Kirk Cousins to see the preseason field at this stage of his career and oft-injured RB Dalvin Cook certainly won’t be playing. Kellen Mond and Sean Mannion have been handling quarterback duties for the Vikes and they combined for two INTs and zero TDs against the Niners.
Although Russell Wilson won’t be on the field for the Broncos, I still expect them to put forth a decent effort. This is a new-look team with high expectations and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett will want to set the tone for a winning culture – even in the preseason. Denver will be especially eager to regain that tone after getting destroyed by Buffalo via a 42-15 decision in Week 2. The Broncos won their opening game 17-7 over the Cowboys and that was at home. They are back at home now, so I’ll get on the horse.
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