2009 NFL Preseason Football Betting Previews for Week 1

After a long summer with no pigskin, sports bettors are screaming TGIF – thank goodness it’s football – when the NFL preseason begins this week. BetUS has interesting matchups set for Friday and Saturday.

Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers (-2.5, 34)
New head coaches usually want to start their tenure with a winning attitude, and Broncos new head coach Josh McDaniels is no exception. He told his starters and draft picks that they would be seeing more time than usual in Friday’s preseason opener.

Denver’s roster is very young and McDaniels is hoping to squeeze all the game experience he can out of these tuneup contests before the start of the season. He is also testing his coaching staff with scouting reports and a full-blown game plan, even canceling an on-field practice to review the team’s mission for Friday.

San Francisco head coach Mike Singletary is also getting his first crack at preseason football. He told reporters he plans on starting quarterback Shaun Hill over former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith but hasn’t mentioned how much time each would play. Smith was recently sent off the field during drills by Singletary after a dismal practice run.

The 49ers will take their new “Taser” offense for a test drive Friday night. The system is a variation of the infamous single-winged Wildcat formation. This is something offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye has cooked up to improve the team’s poor offensive output in 2008. Expect running backs and receivers to handle direct snaps versus the Broncos.

Cincinnati Bengals at New Orleans Saints (-3, 37)
The Bengals are the latest stars to hit the small screen, with their training camp reality series, Hard Knocks, debuting on HBO this week. Cincinnati has spent a lot of time working on protecting quarterback Carson Palmer but may be missing some major cogs on the offensive line Friday.

Palmer will only take 12 to 15 snaps before handing the ball to J.T. O’Sullivan and Jordan Palmer, who are in a close battle for the role of backup. Head coach Marvin Lewis hasn’t hinted at how long each pivot will play, but will want a solid look at each player in game situations.

Saints head coach Sean Payton told reporters he expects to play his starters for about a quarter, with star quarterback Drew Brees playing one or two offensive sets. Behind him are former starters Mark Brunell and Joey Harrington, which is a good sign for bettors eyeing the New Orleans chalk.

Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers (-3, 36)
Seahawks fans have been waiting for a true go-to receiver for some time now and will finally get to see one in a Seattle jersey on Saturday. Offseason score T.J. Houshmandzadeh will make his debut versus the Chargers. A native of Los Angeles, Houshmandzadeh has been busy arranging plans and grabbing tickets for his friends and family.

Head coach Jim Mora has officially said how much time Houshmandzadeh and the rest of the first stringers will play. The early goings of Saturday’s game will be a quick look at how quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, and his ailing back, work with the Seahawks’ new offensive weapon. Behind Hasselbeck, Seattle snaps the ball to Seneca Wallace, Jeff Rowe, and rookie Mike Teel.

The Chargers are weighing the option of playing often-injured running back LaDainian Tomlinson on Saturday. Tomlinson wants to see time during the preseason after sitting out the past three exhibition schedules. The former MVP doesn’t expect to play in all of San Diego’s preseason tilts but would love a chance to take the field at home. Chargers head coach Norv Turner isn’t cracking on the status of Tomlinson, who continues to plead his case through the media.