The Philadelphia Eagles, victorious in the most recent Super Bowl, are scheduled to commence their season by welcoming the Cincinnati Bengals for their respective preseason kickoff this Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles are building upon their previous season’s accomplishment, where they secured their second Super Bowl victory as a franchise, triumphing over the Kansas City Chiefs, who were aiming for their third consecutive championship, to claim the coveted Lombardi Trophy. During the off-season, notable adjustments occurred within the coaching structure, primarily impacting the offensive strategy. The most prominent shift involved Kevin Patullo’s advancement from the role of passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator, succeeding Kellen Moore, who departed Philadelphia to assume the head coaching position with the Saints.
In contrast, the Bengals have recorded a 9-8 record and were absent from the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. Al Golden, who dedicated the past three years to serving as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator, has now taken on the responsibility of defensive coordinator for Cincinnati. This appointment follows a season in which the Bengals held the 25th spot in the league for both scoring defense, allowing 25.5 points per game, and total defense, permitting 348.3 yards per game.
Cincinnati’s head coach, Zac Taylor, communicated to the media on Tuesday that certain key players, including quarterback Joe Burrow, are anticipated to participate for “several series” during Thursday’s game against the Eagles. Burrow distinguished himself last season by leading the NFL in both passing yardage, accumulating 4,918 yards, and passing touchdowns, with a total of 43. He also directed the league’s premier passing offense, averaging 272.9 yards per game.
Meanwhile, Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia’s head coach, conveyed on Tuesday that he had not yet arrived at a conclusive determination regarding whether his projected starting players would engage in the match against Cincinnati.
Initially positioned as 1.5-point underdogs, the Bengals have now transitioned to become 6.5-point favorites for Thursday’s contest, according to the most current NFL odds. While the Eagles-Bengals game is poised to capture significant attention within the sports arena on Thursday, alternative options are present across a three-game NFL schedule, a four-game MLB schedule, and a trio of WNBA matchups.
Below is an outline of noteworthy events and wagering prospects for Thursday, August 7. All times are in Eastern Standard Time
NFL top selections, viewing options
Colts against Ravens
Time: 7 p.m. | Location: Baltimore | TV: NFL Network | Stream: Fubo (Begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine choice — Expert: Ravens +6 (-110, R.J. White)
The NFL preseason commences on Thursday as the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens clash in the initial matchup among the night’s trio of preseason games. The Ravens have consecutively clinched the AFC North title twice but have only secured 4 victories in their last 11 playoff appearances. Simultaneously, the Colts are entering the season following an 8-9 record and have been unsuccessful in reaching the postseason for the past four years. Baltimore’s head coach, John Harbaugh, is renowned for his prowess during the preseason; since his appointment in 2008, his teams have accumulated a 45-16 straight-up record and a 38-22-1 record against the spread. White also emphasizes that the Ravens have only experienced one preseason defeat by a margin exceeding six points since 2016.
Raiders against Seahawks
Time: 10 p.m. | Location: Seattle | TV: NFL Network | Stream: Fubo (Begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine choice — Expert: Raiders -3.5 first half (-122, R.J. White)
Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith are returning to the Pacific Northwest region to face off against their prior team when the Raiders and Seattle Seahawks engage in competition at Lumen Field. Carroll, aged 73, dedicated 14 seasons (2010-23) to serving as the head coach in Seattle, guiding the Seahawks to their singular Super Bowl title during the 2013 season. On a parallel note, Smith invested the preceding six years in Seattle, attaining a 28-24 record as the starting quarterback and receiving the NFL Comeback Player of the Year distinction in 2022. White highlights that the Seahawks have no intentions of fielding any starters tonight, but he foresees Smith’s participation and achievements against his former team, which is why he is predicting Vegas to achieve the first half spread. “I am of the opinion that the Seahawks quarterbacks are capable of achieving success against the latter portion of the Raiders roster, so I would exclusively consider laying the points with a first half figure while potentially endorsing the Seahawks in a second half play,” White conveyed to SportsLine.
MLB top selections, viewing options
Reds against Pirates
Time: 6:40 p.m. | Location: Pittsburgh | TV: MLBN | Stream: Fubo (begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine choice — Model: Reds +1.5 -157 | Expert: Pirates -1 (-125, Matt Severance)
The Cincinnati Reds are aiming to sustain their progression towards the playoffs as they confront Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The Reds (60-55) are positioned just three games behind the Mets for the third and conclusive Wild Card slot in the National League. Thursday’s pitching arrangements involve Skenes against Brady Singer (9-8, 4.36 ERA). The SportsLine Projection Model, which conducts 10,000 simulations of each MLB game, suggests that Cincinnati possesses a 70.0% likelihood of covering on the run line and bestows an ‘A’ grade upon Reds +1.5 (-157). Nevertheless, Severance favors Pittsburgh on the run line, emphasizing Skenes’s record of 3-0 with a 0.53 ERA, a 0.71 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts across 17 innings against Cincinnati. “He has unequivocally dominated the Reds during his brief career,” Severance communicated to SportsLine.
Marlins against Braves
Time: 7:15 p.m. | Location: Atlanta | Watch: MLBN | Stream: Fubo (begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine choice — Model: Braves +1.5 -162
Two NL East divisional rivals are poised to engage as the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves initiate a five-game series at Truist Park. The Marlins (56-57) have emerged as one of baseball’s most successful teams over the preceding two months, accumulating a 31-16 record throughout their last 47 games. They are currently six games behind the Mets for the third and final Wild Card spot in the NL. Conversely, the Braves (47-66) have encountered challenges throughout the season; only the Nationals and Rockies possess more unfavorable records within the NL. On Thursday, Miami’s Eury Pérez (4-3, 2.70) will confront Atlanta’s Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 5.68). The SportsLine Projection Model indicates that the Braves hold a 71.0% probability of covering on the run line and assigns an ‘A’ grade to Atlanta +1.5 (-162).
Additional MLB recommended wagers
WNBA top selections, viewing options
Dream against Sky
Time: 8 p.m. | Location: Chicago | TV: Prime Video | Stream: Fubo (begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine choice — | Expert: Sky +10.5 -105 (Max Meyer)
The Atlanta Dream are intending to uphold their upward momentum as they confront the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. The Dream (18-11) have achieved three consecutive victories and five wins in their last six contests, thereby advancing into a shared third-place position within the WNBA standings. Meanwhile, the Sky (8-21) maintain the league’s third-lowest record, surpassing only the Wings and Sun. Nevertheless, Chicago is entering the game subsequent to a 78-64 triumph against the Mystics, during which Ariel Atkins made a return from injury to contribute 15 points, converting 7 out of 10 shot attempts. While the Sky have benefited from Atkins’ return, Atlanta will be required to participate in another game without Rhyne Howard (knee), who has been absent since July 11, partially explaining Meyer’s choice to support Chicago’s coverage. “I am finding it difficult to align with such a substantial line, especially with a healthy Atkins reintegrated into the fold,” Meyer stated.
Fever against Mercury
Time: 10 p.m. | Location: Phoenix | Watch: Prime Video | Stream: Fubo (begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine choice — Model: Fever +5.5 -110 (Calvin Wetzel and Aaron Barzilai)
Two teams heavily involved in the playoff contention will compete as the Phoenix Mercury hosts the Indiana Fever at PHX Arena. The Mercury (18-11) are entering Thursday’s competition tied for third place within the WNBA, holding a 1.5-game advantage over the fifth-place Fever (17-13). Indiana is approaching the game following a 100-91 defeat against the Sparks, which concluded the team’s five-game winning sequence. The Fever have attained a 5-3 record throughout their last eight games, while Caitlin Clark remains unavailable due to an injury. Wetzel and Barzilai highlight that Indiana’s net rating for the season surpasses Phoenix’s by 2.5 points per 100 possessions. “This still constitutes a Fever team that is not receiving sufficient recognition, even without Caitlin Clark,” they stated.
Future Preview: Blue Jays against Dodgers
Time: Friday, 10:10 p.m. | Location: Los Angeles
In what may eventually unfold as a preview of the World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers are set to clash on Friday, marking the initial game of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Blue Jays (68-48) possess the most favorable record within the American League and are coming off a three-game sweep in Colorado, during which they collectively outscored the Rockies by a margin of 45-6. Conversely, the reigning World Series champion Dodgers (66-49) are leading the NL West by a two-game margin over their divisional adversary, the Padres. Friday’s pitching arrangements feature two future Hall of Famers: Los Angeles’ Clayton Kershaw (5-2, 3.29) against Toronto’s Max Scherzer (2-1, 4.39), who previously shared teammateship on the Dodgers during the 2021 season.
