Steve Makinen Examines NFL Preseason Betting Trends and Team Records for 2026

Steve Makinen has compiled historical data on NFL preseason betting performance across multiple seasons and his review pinpoints specific patterns that have emerged in recent years while he outlines adjustments bettors may consider as the 2026 preseason approaches in August. Research from VSIN indicates that factors such as resting starters and shifting point spreads create distinct environments compared with regular-season play and Makinen draws on ATS, SU, and over/under records to illustrate those differences.

Historical Patterns in Team Performance

Buffalo has posted a 14-5-1 mark over the total in recent preseasons according to the compiled figures and that streak reflects consistent offensive and defensive outputs during exhibition matchups. Chicago meanwhile holds a 9-2-1 SU record alongside a 10-2 ATS mark across the last four preseasons and those results stem from games where the team either covered spreads outright or stayed within narrow margins. Observers note that such tendencies appear when lineups feature a mix of veterans and developmental players yet the same squads often alter their approach once starters receive reduced snaps later in August.

Data indicates similar variances across other franchises and Makinen segments the information by home versus road results as well as favorite versus underdog situations. Teams that perform strongly as home underdogs in preseason contests for example show different over/under frequencies than those favored on the road and the breakdowns allow for situational filtering before wagers are placed.

Adapting to 2026 Preseason Conditions

Resting starters becomes more common as training camp progresses and that shift influences both totals and spread outcomes in ways that differ from prior decades. Unfamiliar lines also surface because oddsmakers adjust rapidly to roster changes and injury reports that emerge only days before kickoff. Bettors who review historical team-specific data can identify instances where a club’s typical ATS lean reverses under reduced personnel and Makinen supplies those comparisons in organized tables that cover overall, home, road, and situational splits.

One study revealed that clubs with strong recent ATS records as underdogs maintained those edges primarily in early preseason weeks before starters sat out later exhibitions. Figures reveal that over/under results similarly fluctuate once depth players enter the lineup and totals tend to rise or fall depending on the pace those groups establish. Makinen’s team-by-team summaries therefore incorporate both aggregate trends and the narrower windows where those trends hold most reliably.

Detailed Team and Situational Records

Each franchise receives coverage across multiple categories and the home-road distinction proves especially relevant because some teams post markedly different results when playing in their own stadiums versus traveling for exhibitions. Favorite-underdog splits further refine the picture and data shows that certain squads cover more consistently when installed as underdogs even against stronger opponents in limited-snap environments. Those who have reviewed the full set of records can cross-reference current 2026 preseason matchups against the historical baseline and identify potential edges or cautionary signals.

And the analysis extends to conference and divisional alignments because intra-division games sometimes produce tighter totals while inter-conference contests allow more variance. Makinen presents the information in clear segments so readers can isolate the relevant slice for any given August matchup without sorting through unrelated regular-season statistics.

Conclusion

The review of historical NFL preseason betting trends supplies a structured reference for the 2026 exhibition schedule and Makinen’s emphasis on team-specific ATS, SU, and over/under marks highlights patterns that persist despite roster turnover. Bettors gain access to segmented data covering overall performance, venue splits, and favorite-underdog scenarios while the report accounts for the impact of resting starters and evolving lines. The complete set of team breakdowns appears at the source and provides the raw numbers alongside explanatory notes that place each trend in context for the upcoming preseason window.