Don’t look now, but not only do we have NFL games going on, but we’ve got a full slate on deck for tonight! After all, the regular season will kick off in less than a month, and while that will actually be on a Wednesday, we all know how Thursdays usually start a new NFL week. So, with a full six-game slate on the board, why not enjoy some NFL best bets today? Better yet, we’ll take things a step further and show you how to easily make some NFL picks after scoring a GUARANTEED EDGE Boost promo code bonus!

🔥 NFL Preseason Week 1 Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 8/13 

Thursday night kicks off the 2026 preseason with a packed six-game slate, giving bettors a wide range of matchups to dig into right out of the gate. Games span from early evening into primetime, with teams across the league getting their first look at live action after weeks of training camp. Coaching decisions on starter usage, roster battles at the fringes, and fresh depth chart questions all come into play across the board tonight. That mix of storylines and uncertainty is exactly what makes the opening night of preseason such a rich source for NFL best bets today.

With six games on the board, there is no shortage of angles to explore, from full game markets to specific players worth tracking as rosters take shape. Some coaches have already been vocal about how much their starters will play, while others remain far less predictable heading into kickoff. That contrast across the slate is part of what makes preseason lines trickier than a typical week, and it also fuels the appeal of tonight's NFL best bets today for anyone chasing solid NFL predictions. The matchups and players worth zeroing in on tonight get the full breakdown right below.

 

 

 

👀 Best Matchups & Players To Watch Today

A few storylines jump off the page across tonight's six-game slate. Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor confirmed Joe Burrow and the starters will play, while Detroit's Dan Campbell said he does not expect to play many of his regulars, setting up an unusual imbalance in that opener. Indianapolis will lean on Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson at QB, with Daniel Jones unlikely to see the field for a little while yet, giving us a real look at their offseason QB competition. Houston's DeMeco Ryans noted a select group will sit out, while Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak said starters will get real run, all shaping tonight's NFL best bets today.

The late window brings even more to track. Jim Harbaugh has already said Los Angeles will hold its starters until the second or third preseason game, a notable fade for anyone eyeing the Chargers early. San Francisco's opener also carries an emotional subplot, with Kyle Shanahan returning to coach after his July car crash and concussion. With four different approaches to starter usage on display across just six games, tonight's slate offers a legitimate mix of clean, predictable spots and murkier ones, giving real range to work with across NFL best bets today.

🏉 Cardinals vs. Raiders Prediction, Thursday, August 13th: Over 39.5 Total Points

The pick here is the over 39.5 in Cardinals vs. Raiders, the highest total on tonight's six-game board. Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak has confirmed his starters will get real reps tonight, headlined by the debut of Fernando Mendoza, the #1 overall pick in this year's draft, behind presumptive starter Kirk Cousins. That level of commitment to playing meaningful personnel is rare for a preseason opener and stands out clearly among tonight's NFL best bets today. A high total paired with actual starters on the field is exactly the kind of alignment worth targeting.

Arizona brings its own share of intrigue to the equation as well, adding another team willing to get real work after putting up 30 in the Hall of Fame Game. With both sides expected to feature legitimate contributors rather than fourth-string depth pieces, points should come easier than in a typical preseason opener where backups dominate the box score from the opening whistle. That combination of engaged coaching staffs and a number already sitting at the top of the board makes this Over one of the more logical NFL best bets today on the entire slate.

Preseason totals can be volatile, but the participation picture here removes a lot of the guesswork that usually plagues these lines. When two teams are both leaning into real snaps for key personnel, scoring tends to look more like a genuine football game than a sloppy audition, and that is precisely the environment that supports clearing a total like 39.5. Between Mendoza's much-anticipated debut and Arizona's own willingness to play meaningful players, this over stands as one of the stronger NFL best bets today, and one of the cleaner NFL picks on the board tonight.

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🔢 Best NFL Player Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 8/13

When it comes to more ways to add to our NFL best bets today, player props will be a bit unique for the preseason specifically. What we’ve found is that Underdog has the most extensive options, so that’s where you’ll see the values below:

Passing Yards:

Rushing Yards:

Receiving Yards:

XP Made:

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