It’s the most wonderful time of the year. At least for some.
Football season returns Thursday with the Hall of Fame Game, the official start of the NFL’s preseason schedule.
The Denver Broncos take on the Atlanta Falcons at 8 p.m. Thursday in Canton, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on NBC.
The Broncos are favored by 2.5 points on the newly-minted PA FanDuel Sportsbook app. The total is set at 34 points.
With the state’s first iPhone betting app officially up and running as of July 29, this is an ideal opportunity to take the new FanDuel Sportsbook for a spin. That way you are ready to go when the regular season kicks off and bettors can use PA online betting apps during the NFL season for the first time.
Backups are often the key to preseason bets
Preseason football betting is not for the faint of heart. However, one place to possibly find an edge, especially in the first week of preseason football, lies in the backup players on the roster.
Starters shouldn’t play more than a few possessions. Thus, the bulk of the playing time will be distributed among backups. And those that perform better will likely decide the game.
Schaub, Lock are listed as backup QBs
In terms of backup quarterbacks, the Atlanta Falcons have a significant edge in terms of experience. Matt Schaub is listed as the backup QB for the Falcons. Drew Lock is listed as the backup for the Broncos. Schaub is entering his 15th season in the league, while Lock is a rookie this season.
Certainly, other quarterbacks will also take snaps in the game. The Broncos have Kevin Hogan and Brett Rypien behind Lock. Kurt Benkert is the third quarterback for the Falcons.
FanDuel also offering winning margin bets
For those not interested in traditional bets, FanDuel’s sportsbook is also offering a handful of winning margin bets. Currently, the Broncos are +150 to win by 1-13 points and +330 to win by 14 or more.
The Falcons offer even better returns. Atlanta is +185 to win by 1-13 and +550 to win by 14 or more.
Full preseason slate kicks off next Thursday
Next week, a full slate of preseason games kicks off with both Pennsylvania teams in action. The newly-launched BetAmerica Sportsbook at Presque Isle Downs and Casino will also host its grand opening celebration next Thursday starting at 4 p.m. in conjunction with all those games.
Later Thursday night, the Tennessee Titans will take on the Philadelphia Eagles at 7:30 p.m.
Then, on Friday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Pittsburgh Steelers at 7:30 p.m.
Every NFL team plays a preseason game next week
In total, there are 11 NFL preseason games set for next Thursday, and five more scheduled throughout the weekend. Every NFL team will take the field.
Betting lines for all those games should be available on your favorite site closer to kickoff. And that’s great news for all those fans starved for some gridiron action.
Football is finally back.
The most wonderful time of the year is here again.