Tread lightly when betting on NFL Preseason games. These are exhibition matches played between second- and third-stringers.

Winning these games is not the priority.

That said, you can sometimes strike gold in these garbage games. 

(8 p.m. ET., NBC)

The Jets are 5-1 against the spread (ATS) and 5-1 to the Over in preseason games under Robert Saleh. 

Why? Because they have backup quarterbacks that tear up exhibition defenses. 

Zach Wilson, who turned 24 Thursday, is probably dying to tear up anything after spending the offseason as a welcome mat for Aaron Rodgers.

Wilson has averaged 8.6 yards per attempt in three preseason appearances. He gets the start Thursday, so look out for a big game. 

Wilson’s preseason backup is Chris Streveler and he’ll see most of the action.

Streveler finished the 2022 preseason with 277 yards and five touchdowns (and only one interception) on 8.4 yards per attempt. The Jets went 3-0 straight up and ATS in those games. 

If history is any indication, the Jets should easily move the ball behind their All-World pre-season play-callers. 

But I wouldn’t overlook Cleveland here. 

The best preseason quarterback is often the one that uses his legs. Many of these guys aren’t mature enough to read NFL defenses, so they need to push the ball downfield in other ways.

Kevin Stefanski’s Browns have two of those. 

Texas A&M product Kellen Mond will start under center. He rushed for more than 2,100 yards and 20 touchdowns in his four seasons as an Aggie.

When Mond is done, the Browns will deploy UCLA product and fifth-round draft pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He was a five-year starter at UCLA, rushing for more than 1,200 yards and 21 scores spanning his final two seasons.

UCLA was an electric dual-action offense with DTR under center. He’s a highlight waiting to happen.

These are two new quarterbacks for Stefanski, but it’s worth noting that his Browns went 3-0 to the Over in last year’s final three preseason games.

I think we’ll see a very free-flowing style of football. While pre-season totals are always low, points might not be at such a premium here.

Actually, uber-low-scoring preseason games might be a myth. 

Preseason games with a total below 37 are 221-163-6 to the Over since 2007, good for a 58 percent hit rate. 

So, let’s cash the Over again. Take me to the promised land, Chris Streveler/Kellen Mond/Dorian Thompson-Robinson. 

The play: Over 33.5 (-110, BetMGM)