Pre-Season football doesn’t have to be a visual representation of numbers you’ve never seen and names you’ll never no – not at all. In fact, this whole situation of backups and borderline shenanigans can be a profitable little system. I’ve highlighted a few of the games and lines that drew my attention in Week 1 of preseason action and this is what I’ve come up with. 

 
New York Giants @ Detroit Lions (-3) (8-7-08)

I like the Lions to cover (-3) at home against the Giants. The Giants won the Super Bowl, and have always looked like a team that could care less about the pre-season. Also, Plax won’t be playing, Ahmad Bradshaw and Jacobs won’t get much work, there are some injuries to the Giant receiving corps, and they lost a couple key players after winning the big game. This is just pre-season, but Marinelli is a guy trying to prove that he can win in Detroit, and I’d like to think it starts in the pre-season this year. 

 
Baltimore Ravens (+5) @ New England Patriots  (8-7-08)

I like Baltimore (+5) in New England to at least cover. They have a 3-way battle at quarterback going on, Ray Rice is a good young player looking to get some looks, and basically, offensively, this whole team (aside from Willis – who won’t be playing) is trying to grab a starting gig. They have more than a few good young offensive linemen, and they always have a bevy of young defensive players ready to hit hard. Look for New England to enjoy the sidelines, or at least most of their decent players will, while soon to be cut players take a majority of the pre-season snaps. 

 
San Francisco 49ers @ Oakland Raiders (UNDER 33.5)  (8-8-08)

I like the Under (34) in California when the Raiders and 49ers meet up. Neither of these teams can score for beans, and even though their defenses are equally as brutal, it seems that week one is a low scoring pre-season week anyway. This low under won’t be outscored, I like the under. 

Denver Broncos @ Houston Texans (-2.5)  (8-9-08)

Lastly, I like Sage Rosenfels and Matt Schaub to each throw a touchdown against Denver’s friendly defensive unit and the Texans (-2.5) to cover at home against the Broncos. The Texans can put up points, and they have a lot of 1st 2nd and 3rd team guys that are interchangeable (maybe not great but still). That should mean Gary Kubiak can outmanage his old mentor (Mike Shanny) and beat the Broncos in the pre-season opener.