2023 NFL Preseason Betting News
With the start of NFL training camp inching closer, players around the league are getting back into the rhythm. That will continue over the next few weeks, though not a lot of recent news.
As the teams currently have their training camp rosters set, the next wave of stories figure to accompany the cuts. That doesn’t mean all is quiet, so here’s a look at the late doings.
To the NFC North
Now that Aaron Rodgers has departed town, the other three NFC North teams believe their time is now. It’s the Detroit Lions with plenty of hype heading into 2023, as the wagering faves at +135, according to NFL division odds. It’s a franchise which hasn’t won this division in 30 years.
Of course, the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings could make noise as well. Chicago made a huge move this offseason, acquiring D.J. Moore in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. He is going to be a tremendous help to what’s been a stagnant offense. Minnesota is making a change at the running-back position, giving the ball to Alexander Mattison.
Early reports out of Chicago have Moore everything the Bears were hoping, already in sync with quarterback Justin Fields. Chicago has some depth among the wideouts, but needed a top threat downfield. Moore is going to be that player.
Minnesota released running back Dalvin Cook in the offseason to dump salary, thus Mattison the top back on the depth chart. He’s never had a 500-yard season in the league, but the Vikings believe he could emerge this season.
Drama in Buffalo?
The Buffalo Bills begin 2023 as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. That’s not an unfamiliar position, even if an odd one considering the Bills have never won a title in the NFL. There was some drama to start minicamps last month. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs wasn’t there.
Diggs and quarterback Josh Allen had some issues near the end of last season and into the playoffs, as the wideout was unhappy with some of the plays. Allen and coach Sean McDermott both acknowledged that was the reason Diggs didn’t participate, but the holdout wasn’t long.
Now that things appear to have settled down in Buffalo, Allen blamed the media, claiming it made too much of the disagreement. Handling the issue with Diggs is a work in progress, but the Bills are not expecting any issues come the beginning of the season.
Buffalo is listed as the +850 third choice to win the title, as per Super Bowl LVIII odds.
That’s Just Genius
The league and Genius Sports recently announced a multiyear extension of its partnership, continuing to provide real league data to television networks and sportsbooks. Genius will also produce a live game feed that can then be shown at some of the top books in the US.
Though not allowing all of its games to be shown at each of the sportsbooks, the league has created a “Watch and Bet” platform in its place. Caesars was the first to partner with the league in this platform, creating what’s described as a better in-game experience.
Broadcasts of NFL games also use the information via Genius. While the NFL just suspended a number of players after their involvement in betting, the league backs the industry as a whole.
It was information gathered by Genius Sports which helped the NFL identify the players that were illegally wagering on the league, leading to those suspensions. It’s a partnership dating back to 2021, and will extend through the 2027 season (including the playoffs)..
Roullier Now Retired
This is the time of year when some players decide to retire. That was the case with former Washington Commander Chase Roullier. The center was recently released by the team.
A rough last few years. Roullier ended the last two seasons on injured reserve. The news came on an Instagram post, Roullier didn’t receive much interest around the league.
Having made 63 starts since entering the league, Washington had selected Roullier in the sixth round (2017 draft) out of Wyoming. Washington has a pair of options at the center position.
- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
