For the most part, the timing of games probably has minimal effect on over/under projections for win totals. What matters most is the rosters of the teams playing one another, rather than when exactly they get together, until you actually know what the teams will look like at the time they play.
In other words, it’s nothing new that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ projected over/under win total is nine games (in a 17-game season, of course, which would be 9-8, or 9-7-1…or 9-3-5, etc.). And for ESPN analytics contributor Seth Walder, that’s the safest win total over/under right now…going with the under.