Six National Football League preseason games hit Thursday's slate. Here are the best parlay combinations with value odds across the board.
Thursday's National Football League Preseason Parlay Picks - August 13, 2026
Thursday night delivers a full six-game National Football League preseason slate, and while preseason football comes with its own set of quirks - starters sitting, vanilla play-calling, and roster battles taking centre stage - the betting markets still offer genuine value if you know where to look. With totals generally sitting in the mid-to-upper 30s and spreads tight across most matchups, this card is ripe for smart parlay construction. Let's break down the best combinations.
Game-by-Game Analysis
Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers (20:00 ET)
The Steelers open as home favourites at -1.5, available at +100 with Hard Rock Bet - that's essentially a free half-point of juice when you're laying the home chalk. Pittsburgh typically runs a disciplined preseason programme, and home comfort matters more in August games where crowd noise can rattle backup QBs. The total sits at 37.5, which is well within range for a defensive-minded Steelers squad even with starters resting. The Under 37.5 at -105 (Hard Rock Bet) is our preferred lean here given both franchises' tendencies to tighten up defensively in preseason.
Detroit Lions @ Cincinnati Bengals (20:00 ET)
The Bengals are heavy favourites at -6.5, with Detroit getting +6.5 at +100 via theScore Bet - that plus-money on the Lions spread is the standout value on the entire card. Getting better than even money on a 6.5-point cushion in a preseason game is generous. Backup QBs routinely keep preseason scores closer than the market implies, and Detroit's organisation has been building genuine depth. That +100 price on Lions +6.5 is a real overlay.
Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots (20:30 ET)
New England -1.5 at home is available at +100 (Hard Rock Bet) once again - bookmakers are essentially handing out free money on tight home favourites tonight. The Patriots under new leadership have made roster development a priority, and Foxborough should provide a slight edge. The total of 38.5 is the highest of the early games; the Under 38.5 at -104 (FanDuel) offers minimal juice for a typically conservative preseason opener.
Arizona Cardinals @ Las Vegas Raiders (21:00 ET)
This is one of the tighter lines on the board. The Raiders are -1.5 home favourites at -105 (Hard Rock Bet) while the Cardinals get +1.5 at -105 (DraftKings). With the total sitting at 39.5 - the joint highest on the card - the Under 39.5 at +102 (DraftKings) stands out as a value play offering plus money on a preseason game. Desert Heat late-summer conditions in Vegas can slow offences, and backup-heavy rosters rarely sustain drives efficiently enough to crack 40 points combined.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Houston Texans (21:00 ET)
The Texans host at -1.5 and the line is razor-thin. Los Angeles Chargers +1.5 at -105 (Fanatics) gives us a second preseason road underdog worth attaching to a ticket. The Chargers organisation under current management has developed strong preseason depth, and road underdogs at near-pick territory in August are worth taking the points. The Chargers ML at +114 (DraftKings) is also worth flagging as a value alternative if you prefer outright.
Tennessee Titans @ San Francisco 49ers (22:00 ET)
The market has the Titans as 2.5-point road favourites, which immediately raises eyebrows. Tennessee laying points on the road in a preseason game against a 49ers side with genuine home pride is a bold market position. The San Francisco 49ers +2.5 at -104 (FanDuel) is the best value on this game. Getting the home team with points against a road favourite in preseason is classic fade-the-public territory. The 49ers ML at +130 (DraftKings) is also worth a look as a standalone value play.
Recommended Parlay Combinations
Parlay 1 - The Preseason Underdog Special (3 legs)
This parlay stacks three of Thursday's best spread values, all offering plus-money or near-even pricing:
- Detroit Lions +6.5 (+100) - theScore Bet - plus-money cushion in a game where backups close the gap
- Pittsburgh Steelers -1.5 (+100) - Hard Rock Bet - free juice on the home chalk
- San Francisco 49ers +2.5 (-104) - FanDuel - home team with points against a road favourite
Combined odds: approximately +351. Three legs, all with near-even or better pricing, and each backed by solid preseason logic.
Parlay 2 - Totals Under Parlay (3 legs)
Preseason football is historically low-scoring with conservative play-calling and shaky second-string offences. This three-leg under parlay targets the most defensible totals on the board:
- Under 37.5 (Pittsburgh/Green Bay) (-105) - Hard Rock Bet
- Under 39.5 (Raiders/Cardinals) (+102) - DraftKings - rare plus-money under
- Under 38.5 (Patriots/Colts) (-104) - FanDuel
Combined odds: approximately +212. A solid low-risk accumulator anchored by the best-priced totals on the slate.
Parlay 3 - Value Moneyline 2-Teamer
For those who want a shorter, sharper ticket with real upside:
- San Francisco 49ers ML (+130) - DraftKings - home team priced as underdogs, strong value
- Los Angeles Chargers ML (+114) - DraftKings - road underdog in a pick-em spot with extra upside
Combined odds: approximately +384. A two-leg ticket where both sides are getting plus-money against slight home or road favourites. The implied probability gap between these prices and fair value makes this the sharpest value ticket of the night.
Best Value Flag
The standout value on the entire slate is Detroit Lions +6.5 at +100 (theScore Bet). Getting plus-money on a 6.5-point spread in a National Football League preseason game - where roster parity is at its highest and starters routinely sit - is a genuine overlay. The market is overvaluing Cincinnati's edge in August conditions. This is the leg worth anchoring your parlay around.
Responsible gambling reminder: Parlays are high-risk, high-reward wagers - only bet what you can afford to lose, and please gamble responsibly.
