NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds & Picks for Saturday: Cowboys vs. Chargers (8/20)
Let’s check out our top odds and pick for Saturday’s Week 2 NFL preseason game between the Cowboys vs. Chargers.
And check out our picks for the other Week 2 NFL preseason action:
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NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds & Picks for Saturday: Cowboys vs. Chargers
Saturday’s preseason showdown between the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys is set to be a battle of the backups. Both teams competed in joint practices Wednesday and Thursday, and both Brandon Staley and Mike McCarthy essentially treated those practices as preseason games.
So while Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott won’t see action Saturday, this contest will feature two teams with backup quarterback competitions. Easton Stick is expected to start Saturday night for Los Angeles, with veteran Chase Daniel entering the game after halftime. For Dallas, Cooper Rush will likely get the start with Will Grier coming in later on.
Rush was uninspiring in his first preseason contest, completing 12-of-20 passes for 84 yards and an interception. Grier missed the preseason opener with a hamstring injury but has gained some ground during this week’s joint practices.
Daniel was the better passer for Los Angeles in their preseason opener, completing 11-of-17 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Stick, a 2019 developmental pick out of North Dakota State, completed 16-of-23 passes for 119 yards and a pick.
My favorite play for this game is a bet against the likely starting quarterbacks. Both Rush and Stick performed poorly in their preseason debuts, and I’d expect more of the same Saturday night as neither has proven much in the pros. For that reason, I’ll isolate the first half total and take the under.
What is Betting Against the Spread?
Betting “against the spread†refers to the act of choosing the winning team based on a numeric handicap placed on the team that oddsmakers believe is superior, rather than picking the outright winner. For example, if the Rams face the Bengals, and oddsmakers set the spread at Rams -3.5, you would need Los Angeles to win by 4 or more points in order to cash your Rams bet.
What is an Over/Under Bet?
Over/Under is a wager based on how many points you think will be scored in a specific game. Oddsmakers set the total, and bettors decide whether the final score will be higher or lower than that number. If an Over/Under is set at 44.5 points and you bet Over, you will need the combined score of both teams to be 45 points or higher to win your bet.
What is a Moneyline Bet?
A moneyline bet involves choosing which team you believe will win a specific matchup. The moneyline favorite carries a minus designation, like -130. This means that you need to wager $130 to earn a $100 profit. Conversely, the underdog carries a plus designation, like +110. This means that you win $110 in profit on a $100 bet.
Matthew Freedman’s Best Bets After the 2022 NFL Draft >>
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