NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds & Picks for Thursday: Bears vs. Seahawks (8/18)

Aug 17, 2022 - 10:21 PM

Let’s check out our top odds and pick for Thursday’s Week 2 NFL preseason game between the Bears and Seahawks.

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NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds & Picks for Thursday: Bears vs. Seahawks

The Seahawks were steamed up to -5.5 Tuesday evening before news came out that Drew Lock tested positive for COVID-19. Lock was expected to start Thursday night against Chicago and the line immediately dropped to the current number of -3.5. Now, Geno Smith will start with a chance to seize control of the job.

For a preseason game this line has experienced a ton of movement, and it’s one that I’m staying away from. Instead, I’m going to look to the total, specifically in the first half.

Both Smith and Bears quarterback Justin Fields played into the second quarter in Week 1. However, both quarterbacks struggled to get things going. The Seahawks scored 10 points in the first half with Smith under center, while Fields and the Bears were blanked in the first half on three drives.

I’m not a fan of either of these starting offenses. With a game total set at 39.5, I’ll be fading them both in the first half.

Bet: First-Half Under 20

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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