Steve Makinen Releases Detailed 2026 NFL Preseason Betting Trends Analysis

Steve Makinen of VSiN delivered an extensive review of historical team-specific betting trends ahead of the 2026 NFL preseason, drawing on records from recent years to map out patterns that bettors track each summer. The analysis covers straight-up results, against-the-spread performance, over-under totals, and splits by home or road games along with streaks and favorite-underdog situations, all while noting how preseason conditions differ from regular-season play because teams rest starters and lines form without full context.

Team Records That Stand Out in the Data

Atlanta shows a 5-24-1 straight-up mark and a 5-25 record against the spread across the sample period, a stretch that continues to influence how markets price Falcons preseason games. Buffalo posted a 14-5-1 record on the over, a trend that surfaces when totals move and public action leans one direction. Chicago recorded a 9-2-1 straight-up mark and 10-2 against the spread, numbers that appear when the Bears enter camp with returning starters and favorable early schedules. Additional teams display tendencies tied to home-road splits, win or loss streaks, and whether they sit as favorites or underdogs, creating a reference set that updates as new results arrive.

Why Preseason Wagering Differs from Regular Season

Preseason betting demands adjustments because coaches limit snaps for veterans, depth charts shift weekly, and oddsmakers work with limited injury and personnel data. The report emphasizes these variables and explains how the same franchises can produce opposite results once the regular season begins. Data from prior summers shows that early-week totals often land differently once starters exit after the first or second quarter, while late-week games sometimes feature more aggressive play-calling from teams still chasing roster spots.

Weekly Updates Planned for Analytics Reports

VSiN intends to refresh the preseason trends each week as training-camp results and exhibition games provide fresh inputs. Observers note that adding one or two new data points can shift a team's record enough to change how the next line opens, especially for squads already sitting at extreme historical marks. The process keeps the dataset current without altering the core methodology that produced the initial breakdowns.

Analysts continue to monitor how home-field edges, travel schedules, and rest advantages interact with the historical numbers Makinen compiled. For instance, teams that play their first preseason game on the road sometimes show different totals outcomes compared with home openers, a split tracked across multiple seasons. The same holds for squads coming off short weeks or extended breaks between exhibitions, patterns that appear consistently in the compiled figures.

Broader Context for 2026 Preseason Markets

August 2026 marks the traditional start of exhibition play, when bettors begin matching current rosters against the long-term trends Makinen outlined. The report serves as one reference among several tools used by professional bettors who cross-check historical splits with injury reports and depth-chart changes released during camp. Because the preseason spans only four weeks for most clubs, each game carries heavier weight in updating the running records than a single regular-season contest would.

Conclusion

The VSiN analysis supplies a structured look at recurring preseason outcomes across the league, anchored in the specific records for Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, and other franchises. Weekly revisions will incorporate new results so the dataset remains aligned with evolving roster and coaching decisions. Those who follow these markets gain access to a running ledger that highlights where historical tendencies have held or shifted in recent summers.