VSiN Analyst Steve Makinen Outlines NFL Preseason Team Betting Trends for 2026

Steve Makinen from VSiN has compiled detailed team-by-team betting trends drawn from recent NFL preseasons, and these patterns receive fresh attention each August as teams prepare for the 2026 campaign. Preseason contests operate under distinct conditions compared with regular-season games, since coaches rest starters early, rotate depth players extensively, and often deploy unfamiliar offensive and defensive line combinations that shift point spreads and totals in measurable ways. Historical records spanning multiple years form the foundation for the breakdowns that cover overall records, home versus road splits, situational results after wins or losses, and performance when teams enter games as favorites or underdogs.

Overall Preseason Records and Patterns

League-wide data shows that certain franchises post consistent results across the past five preseasons regardless of roster changes, while others fluctuate based on coaching staff turnover and injury management strategies. Teams that emphasize third-string quarterback play in later weeks tend to land on the under side of totals more frequently, and that tendency appears in multiple seasons when backups handle extended snaps. Observers note that these overall marks provide a baseline for bettors who track how each club approaches exhibition matchups before the regular season begins in September 2026.

Home and Road Splits

Home teams in recent preseasons cover the spread at a higher rate than their road counterparts, yet several clubs buck that trend because of travel distance or early camp location. Road favorites in particular struggle to cover when they play in stadiums where the home side has installed temporary depth players who create unpredictable matchups. Data indicates that teams returning from West Coast trips to East Coast venues cover less often, while squads that remain in their home region perform closer to their regular-season averages even during exhibition play.

Favorite and Underdog Performance

When teams enter preseason games as favorites, their records against the spread vary widely by franchise. Some clubs that receive early respect from oddsmakers cover at lower rates because opposing coaches deploy aggressive schemes against backup units, while underdogs from certain organizations exceed expectations when they face rested starters who limit their snap counts. The gap between favorite and underdog results widens in the third and fourth weeks of the preseason, when roster cuts begin and playing time becomes even more uneven across the league.

Tracking Trends Through August 2026

These patterns now sit ready for ongoing monitoring during the 2026 preseason slate that opens in early August. Bettors and analysts can compare each week's results against the historical baselines Makinen assembled, noting whether current coaching decisions align with or diverge from past tendencies. Because preseason lines often move on limited information, the documented trends offer context that helps interpret movement once actual game results arrive. Several organizations appear in multiple categories, which allows cross-referencing of home-road, situational, and favorite-underdog data for a more complete picture before each kickoff.

Conclusion

The team-by-team breakdowns supplied by VSiN supply a structured reference point for anyone following NFL exhibition betting in 2026. As games unfold across August, updated results will either reinforce or challenge the historical marks, and those comparisons will continue until the regular season begins. The analysis remains available for continued review at the original VSiN source, while broader industry data from the American Gaming Association and academic reviews of sports wagering patterns provide additional context for interpreting how preseason results fit within larger betting markets.