NFL Preseason Week 1 Picks: Best Bets for Thursday August 7th's Slate

Twenty-three years and three months after Allen Iverson’s notorious rant, another Philadelphia pro athlete reversed course this week and lauded the practice of practice.

“I think practice is supposed to be harder than the game, you know,” Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith said. “You go through practice — especially when you’re going against guys that we’ve been going against for however long we’ve been practicing — they know what you’re going to do. They know what you like to do and things like that. So, that makes it tougher.”

Smith’s response was related to practices fueling Philadelphia for the regular season, so don’t fault the reigning Super Bowl champs if they rest most of their offensive firepower during Thursday’s preseason opener against Cincinnati, as expected.

We’re still four weeks from Philly hosting Dallas to begin its title defense for real, but that doesn’t mean the betting windows are closed. One week removed from the Hall of Fame Game, let’s make some plays on Thursday games as preseason kicks off for the rest of the NFL.

Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles, 7:30 p.m. ET

While various key Bengals personnel on both sides of the ball aren’t expected to suit up, coach Zac Taylor said this week that his starters will play “several series.”

That puts two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow at the controls against a youthful Eagles defense that features two rookies — safety Andrew Mukuba (shoulder) and corner Mac McWilliams (quadriceps) — coming off recent injuries.

Burrow has refined his rapport with third-year wideout Andrei Iosivas, who’ll work alongside Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Expect the Cincinnati attack to click early as a result.

Our pick: Bengals first to 10 points (-220 with Caesars Sportsbook)

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens, 7 p.m. ET

Philosophies about practices and practice games abound this time of year.

On Tuesday, Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins weighed in without saying a peep, throwing punches at Colts running back Tyler Goodson in defense of a teammate in a punt drill during a joint workout with Indianapolis.

Wiggins later was removed from practice.

Colts safety Camryn Bynum said, “It’s all love at the end of the day,” so don’t anticipate Round 2 tonight. Don’t look for many offensive fireworks, either. The Ravens are sitting quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, while the inconsistent Anthony Richardson gets the nod under center for the Colts.

Our pick: Neither team scores 20 points (+150 with Caesars Sportsbook)

Las Vegas Raiders at Seattle Seahawks, 10 p.m. ET

Raiders coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith both have downplayed the reality that their first game with their new team will come against their former one.

This isn’t the collegiate Carroll, so revenge won’t come in the form of a swelling scoreboard. Still, Carroll has left open the possibility that his starters could play for a short spell, unlike Seahawks counterpart Mike Macdonald. Las Vegas also is eager to debut running back Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft.

The Raiders’ second-team backs, Zamir White and Raheem Mostert, have had solid training camps to date. It all should point to success for the silver and black.

Our pick: Raiders over 20.5 points (-120 with DraftKings)