Bettors will get their first look at Peyton Manning in the Gary Kubiak offense on Friday when the Denver Broncos face one of the fiercest teams in the NFL, the Seattle Seahawks.
ODDS ANALYSIS
We'll talk about Seattle's great history in the preseason in just a moment. That history is leading the oddsmakers to making this a very high spread at Seattle -4.5. That number is up from the open at -4.
The total is lined at a relatively average 37.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
It's honestly more important for Kubiak to get his offense going with Brock Osweiler than it is with Manning. We're sure that we'll see the future Hall of Famer for a drive to start the game, but from there, it'll be Osweiler's show for a while. Denver will finish up with Zac Dysert and rookie Trevor Siemian, but we wouldn't be surprised if both guys get their time cut into by Osweiler.
Russell Wilson has himself a new contract, and he'll be eager to get back on the field and erase those memories of that last pass he threw in the Super Bowl. However, if the script is followed from last year, Wilson will only get a drive, maybe two, while backup Tarvaris Jackson will get approximately the same.
R.J. Archer, a former Arena Football League standout, will be third in line.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
Pete Carroll is one of the best coaches in the league in terms of preseason betting. The Seahawks just don't know how to lose games under any circumstance. Carroll is 13-7 SU coaching Seattle, including going 10-2 SU over the last three years, and if you go back to his days coaching the Jets and Patriots, he's 25-11-1 ATS in his career.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We're going to be really patient… He's worked really hard. He's making great progress. The timeline: Let's wait and see how long it takes for it to be really safe and secure for him to come out. Meanwhile, we'll get a lot of looks at some other guys." – Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll on Earl Thomas as he recovers from surgery to his torn labrum
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
You hate to want to watch a battle over tight ends, but in the Kubiak offense, having two of them is pivotal. Denver let Julius Thomas go in free agency, but there are still three really solid options left in Virgil Green, Owen Daniels and James Casey.
All three of these men will likely have jobs on the 53-man roster, but which two will be used most often remains to be seen and will be worked out here in the preseason.
INJURIES
Seattle's secondary is in pieces right now. Kam Chancellor is holding out for a new contract, and Thomas is still a couple weeks away from being able to suit up.
Denver is preparing for life without Ryan Clady, who will miss the 2015 season with a torn ACL.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Broncos have a lot of moving parts here on offense. They've got a new coaching staff in place with an entirely new offensive scheme, and they've got six rookie offensive linemen they’re going to rotate through while simultaneously trying to figure out how to replace a Pro Bowl tight end and finding a third wide receiver to go with Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas.
That's a lot of question marks against a really good and deep defense. Seattle's offense should be strong out of the blocks, and that should be enough to snare a comfy win and cover against Denver.
Seattle 27, Denver 17
The NFL odds for this Friday contest were first released by BookMaker, and the Seattle Seahawks were position as 4-point favorites with a total of 37. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
Need to fund your account before the big game but don't have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don't miss out on getting paid because you couldn't bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The Week 1 matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks is set for Friday, August 14, 2015 at 10:00 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA. The contest will be broadcast on KTVD and FOX 13.
