The last preseason game at this version of Highmark Stadium takes place this Saturday as the standalone early afternoon game.
Sean McDermott is on record saying his starters will play about one quarter in this game. However, that starting lineup won’t include Josh Allen, James Cook, and starting right tackle Spencer Brown.
Even without some of their key players, I like the value we are getting on the Bills to hold serve in their home stadium.
Let's get into my Giants vs Bills prediction and my NFL predictions for Week 1.
Giants vs Bills Odds
| Giants Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -115 | 36.5 -118o / -102u | +136 |
| Bills Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -105 | 36.5 -118o / -102u | -162 |
- Giants-Bills Point Spread: Giants +3 (-115) · Bills -3 (-105)
- Giants-Bills Total: Over/Under 36.5 (O -118 / U -102)
- Giants-Bills Moneyline: Giants +136 · Bills -162
NFL Picks: Preseason Week 1
Giants’ head coach Brian Daboll was not too forthcoming with his plans when it comes to playing starters, but the sense is many of the key defenders for New York won’t be taking the field. This is good news for the two quarterbacks projected to take the majority of snaps for the Bills' offense – Mitchell Trubisky and Mike White. I have pinpointed a few reasons for optimism regarding the Buffalo offense heading into this game.
Trubisky and White bring a level of experience you don’t see often in the preseason, and both have played well during exhibition games in the past. It’s been four years since Trubisky left Chicago, and in that time, he has seen plenty of action during the preseason. Over that span, Trubisky has completed 67.7% of his passes on 121 attempts, averaging a healthy 6.8 yards per attempt and accounting for 4 touchdowns while throwing just 2 interceptions. Now entering his second season with the Bills, he should feel even more comfortable in the system.
Another reason I am expecting productive output from the Bills' offense is the number of young receivers who will be in the mix fighting for roster spots. By all accounts, 2nd-year wideout Keon Coleman has taken another step forward in his development, and I expect him to be on the field in the early going with Trubisky. Two other receivers receiving rave reviews during training camp are Kristian Wilkerson and Tyrell Shavers, both of whom should see the field quite a bit on Saturday. Wilkerson and Shavers have gotten opportunities with the top offense and Josh Allen in practice, but most of their work has come with Trubisky under center.
As for the Giants' offense, the only thing Daboll made clear at the podium was the fact that we’d get a good look at 1st-round pick Jaxson Dart. With little information to work with, I went back to 2018 to see how then-Bills’ offensive coordinator Brian Daboll proceeded with rookie Josh Allen. In Allen’s first outing in the preseason, Daboll had Allen throw 19 passes. That is a significant number of pass attempts for a rookie in enduring his first live NFL action, and it’s clear they want to put as much on tape as possible. Dart is in the development stage, and every rep he can take under these circumstances is a learning opportunity. Of course, with that will come plenty of mistakes.
Not only will Dart be dealing with the growing pains of the NFL, but it is likely the Giants’ offensive staff will not want to overload him with the entire capabilities of the offensive system. This is right in line for a coach in Daboll who doesn’t like to show much in the preseason. During the 2024 preseason, New York scored a total of 30 points, the fewest in the NFL.
Giants vs Bills Predictions
I have more confidence in the Bills’ offense putting up points in this game, given the experience of their signal callers and their depth at wide receiver. Jaxson Dart may prove to be the franchise quarterback the Giants have longed for, but I’ll be fading him in his first NFL game.
Pick: Bills -2.5 (-110 via Fanatics)
How to Watch Giants vs Bills
| Location: | Highmark Stadium |
| Date: | Saturday, August 9 |
| Kickoff Time: | 1 p.m. ET |
Giants vs Bills will be live from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. The game is live on NFL Network.
Giants vs Bills Weather
