The first truly large NFL preseason slate is upon us as six Week 1 games take place Friday night.
Sure, some may not be all that interested in betting on the preseason, but NFL odds movement shows that money is flowing on these games, so much so that oddsmakers are forced to make adjustments to spreads and over/unders.
NFL odds and betting market activity also flow into the Action Network’s PRO Report, which helps identify the picks and predictions offering value across a given slate, even during the preseason.
With this in mind, let’s examine the two smartest NFL picks for Friday’s preseason Week 1 schedule, including Steelers vs. Buccaneers and Broncos vs. Cardinals.
NFL Picks for Friday
*NFL odds as of Friday morning
Steelers vs. Buccaneers Pick
7 p.m. ET
According to the latest NFL odds, Pittsburgh is a 2.5-point favorite against Tampa Bay for Friday night’s game and the way smart money is impacting the spread is pretty interesting.
For starters, this line initially hit the market at Steelers -1.5, but thanks to Pittsburgh action from respected bettors, oddsmakers were forced to adjust the spread to -2.5.
And considering that this number is still short of a field goal, don’t be surprised if more Steelers money shows up before tonight’s game kicks off.
PRO Report Pick: Steelers -2.5
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Broncos vs. Cardinals Pick
10 p.m. ET | NFL Network
When it comes to Broncos vs. Cardinals, the total is garnering the attention of the wiseguys.
According to Action Labs’ Bet Signals, sharps have steamed this over on multiple occasions, helping explain why the total has pushed from 36.5 to a consensus of 37.5 heading into tonight’s game.
With that said, there are still a handful of sportsbooks, like PointsBet and BetMGM, offering 37, so be sure to shop for the best NFL odds if taking a position on Friday’s Broncos vs. Cardinals over.
PRO Report Pick: Over 37