VSiN Analysis Outlines NFL Preseason Team Betting Trends for 2026 Season

VSiN published an analysis by Steve Makinen that details numerous team-specific historical betting trends from recent NFL preseasons and the report breaks these patterns down by overall records, home and road splits, situational factors, plus favorite and underdog scenarios, all drawn from past preseason game logs to support betting decisions ahead of the 2026 season. Observers note that such reviews typically appear in early August when teams begin their exhibition schedules, and this particular piece focuses on streaks that have persisted across multiple years. The data covers squads like the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, and Chicago Bears among others, while it also examines how these trends hold up under different conditions.

Key Team Patterns Emerge From Historical Logs

The analysis identifies Atlanta's extended skid on both the straight-up and against-the-spread fronts, a streak that spans several preseasons and shows the Falcons struggling to cover spreads whether at home or on the road. Researchers who reviewed similar logs in prior years found that such runs often continue until roster changes alter the underlying dynamics, and Makinen's work highlights how this skid persists across favorite and underdog situations alike. Buffalo meanwhile posted a notable run on the over for totals, with games frequently exceeding the posted number in recent exhibitions, and that pattern holds in both home and away settings according to the compiled figures. Chicago demonstrated strong performance both straight-up and against the spread, posting consistent results that apply across situational matchups and when the team enters as a favorite or underdog.

Breakdowns by Home, Road, and Situational Factors

Further sections in the report separate the trends into home and road categories, revealing that some teams maintain their streaks more reliably in one venue than the other. For instance, certain squads show improved straight-up records when playing at their home stadiums during the preseason, while road results diverge in measurable ways. Situational elements such as divisional matchups or games following byes receive separate treatment, and the data indicates that these contexts can either reinforce or interrupt established patterns. Favorite and underdog scenarios receive their own columns, allowing bettors to cross-reference how a team's historical margin or total outcome shifts depending on its status in the betting market. Those who've examined preseason game logs over multiple cycles observe that these layered breakdowns provide a clearer view than aggregate numbers alone.

Additional teams beyond the highlighted examples receive coverage in the same format, with their streaks presented in comparable tables that list wins, losses, covers, and totals across the same categories. The methodology relies on game logs from the most recent preseasons, and the report compiles results without projecting future outcomes. Data from these logs shows consistent patterns in some cases while others appear more variable when filtered by home versus road or by favorite versus underdog status. Makinen's compilation therefore serves as a reference point that organizes raw historical results into usable segments for those tracking 2026 exhibition betting markets.

Context Within Broader Preseason Betting Landscape

Preseason schedules for 2026 began rolling out in early August, which aligns with the timing of this VSiN release and gives bettors immediate access to the historical context before the first exhibition contests. League-wide data from prior years indicates that preseason totals and spreads often move differently than regular-season equivalents, and the team-specific trends add granularity to that broader picture. The report stops short of claiming predictive power yet presents the streaks as observable facts from the recorded logs. Observers who track multiple sportsbooks note that such analyses circulate widely once the preseason slate is set, and they frequently reference the same core game logs that Makinen used.

Conclusion

The VSiN piece organizes historical preseason results into team-by-team categories that cover overall, home-road, situational, and favorite-underdog splits, and it centers on documented streaks for squads including Atlanta, Buffalo, and Chicago. Readers can access the full breakdown through the original publication, which draws directly from past game logs to inform decisions around the 2026 exhibition period. Additional teams receive parallel treatment in the same structured format, supplying a consistent reference across the league.