The NFL is back! Last week, the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals squared off in the annual Hall of Fame game, an incredibly entertaining contest in which Carolina prevailed 33-30 on a walk-off quarterback touchdown run.
This week, the rest of the league will see preseason action, too. With all that in mind, let’s quickly review the past week in sports and peek at what’s ahead on the STN Sports App and the STN Sports Books…
NFL Updates
While the Los Angeles Rams come into the season as the favorite, there’s little money to be made on them in the future book, relatively speaking. Every year, guests focus on a team or two with longer odds that they deem an under-the-radar threat and track them like a license plate reader camera. This year, there are two of them, and they’re coached by the same bloodline, the Harbaugh bloodline.
“The Giants are a team getting some love before the season starts,” Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos Race and Sports Book Director, said of the team with new coach John Harbaugh. “They’ve made some offseason moves, maybe a healthy [Cameron] Skattebo and a healthy Malik Nabers. Giants seem to be getting a little bit of preseason love.” Their future book odds have even lowered a bit because of the action.
Over in the AFC, guests are zeroing in on the Los Angeles Chargers as the vogue team, especially after adding Mike McDonald as the offensive coordinator. “I think he helps a lot with Justin Herbert and some of the pieces they have there,” the oddsmaker said.
Regression Incoming?
There are always a few teams that defy the odds and have meaningful seasons (looking at you, 2025 Patriots). However, that means there are teams that also don’t live up to expectations set forth because of the previous season (maybe looking at you, 2026 Patriots). It’s inevitable.
“I think you could see the Patriots potentially as a regression team,” Esposito said of New England, who comes into the season with the fifth-lowest AFC odds. The Pats were expected to be a middle-of-the-road team last season but made it to the Super Bowl, where they got obliterated by the Seahawks, who Esposito sees as another potential regression team. Seattle comes into the season tied for the second-lowest Super Bowl odds, alongside the Bills and Ravens. The Bears, too, could be falling a little short.
“They had the injury yesterday to Coby Bryant, and you’re still asking them to win the same amount of games they won last year. In that division, that might be a big task,” Esposito said. “I’m not saying those three won’t be playoff teams, but I could see a little bit of regression.”
Preseason Money-Making
How does one actually make money on preseason games? It’s all about information, says STN’s top oddsmaker. “Quarterback rotations become a much more important part of preseason football when you’re looking to bet it. It really is the key to betting preseason football,” Esposito said. Cleveland, for instance, has two guys battling for QB1, so there may be value on them.
“I think there’s going to be some intriguing battles for the backup quarterback spot, and the rotations both kind of tie into one to make the quarterback position the emphasis on preseason football,” Esposito said. Really, it’s helpful to get more granular than a Vegas dust storm. Another thing to consider in this particular preseason? New coaches. Guys like Jesse Minter, Klint Kubiak, Joe Brady and others are going to want to get off on the right foot, so they may be a little more aggressive in the first preseason game of the year.
Last Man Standing
Signups for STN’s Last Man Standing contests, the popular NFL and college football winner-take-all competitions, are ongoing. Each entry costs $25, and guests must sign up in person at any Station Casinos Sports Book. Any contestant who purchases four entries will receive a fifth free. While still active in the competition, guests must turn in their weekly picks in person and select one game against the spread for each entry.
The winner of the Last Man Standing competition of the college variety will win a guaranteed minimum of $100,000 (with an aggregate payout), and the NFL’s Last Man Standing winner will take home a guaranteed minimum of $150,000 (with an aggregate payout). Those wishing to participate in the college football competition must sign up by Saturday, Sept. 12; those wishing to participate in the NFL competition must sign up by Monday, Sept. 14.
Bets to Know
UFC 330 is upon us! The action is this Saturday. Check the app for odds and betting options across the board, including some massive title fights.
Weekly Winners
Summertime means baseball winners. Congrats to this STN Sports bettor: a $5 bet turned into a $524 total win on Monday:
Cardinals/Phillies over 9 runs
Phillies over Cardinals
Dodgers over Royals
Dodgers/Royals over 7.5 runs
Rangers -1.5 over Angels
Astros -1.5 over Giants
Rays -1.5 oevr Athletics