In one of the most meaningless of the NFL matchups this week, the New York Jets travel to Foxboro to take on the Pats. In a game that will do more to impact the New England Patriots’ draft position, the sportsbook still posts a line.
This week’s rematch of the Week 9 series opener comes under very different circumstances for these NFL teams. Last time, sports betting markets priced the Patriots as nine-point chalk, and it took all they had to fend off the Jets to pull off the 30-27 last-second field-goal win.
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Game: New York Jets (2-13) at New England Patriots (6-9) |
The New York Jets disrupted the Cleveland Browns’ playoff chances with their surprising, second upset win last week. The Browns came into the game ravaged by gaps in their wide-receiver corps due to close-contact, COVID-19 exposure. Still a touchdown underdog, the Jets beat the Browns 23-16, locking them into the second-overall pick in next year’s draft.
The New England Patriots had their pantsing by the Buffalo Bills slated in primetime last Monday. Already out of playoff contention, the Patriots were touchdown underdogs and needed far more than that after the Bills pummelled them by a 38-9 final.
This week, the Jets are busy shuffling some bodies on and off the roster for the finale, but in the process have dropped much of their running-back corps. On Wednesday, the team moved Frank Gore to the injured reserve and La’Mical Perine to the IR-C, leaving them absurdly thin at that position. And Sam Darnold is likely playing for his future, and certainly talking like he is.
Meanwhile, Thursday, the Patriots moved DL Tashawn Bower and OLB Josh Uche to the injured reserve. In addition, a couple of other linebackers are questionable and haven’t practiced during the week. The same goes for a couple of the starting offensive linemen. Signs point to the Patriots trying out some new bodies in preparation for next season.
NFL Betting Lines
Moneyline: Jets +145 (2-13) | Patriots -165 (6-9)
In a game that won’t have much of a handle, it’s hard to give much weight to an NFL odds line move here, but the Jets opened +155 and have since come down to +145. We’d guess the Jets are a live dog and (unless some kind of final practice day news throws a loop) money should continue to come in their favor. The Pats could certainly beat the Jets as a -165 favorite, but New York doesn’t have much to lose this time if they win.
Pick: Jets to win
Point Spread: Jets +3 -105 (6-9) | Patriots -3 -115 (6-9)
The point spread opened with New England laying 3½ points, which quickly got bought down to three. Since then, two-way action has pushed the vig back and forth, with the Pats now a field-goal favorite with extra juice.
The same reasoning, expect the Jets to coach to a win and the Patriots to coach for next year’s tape and take the points with the Jets.
Pick: Jets +3 -105
Over/Under 39½ points
The total sank from its open of 41 down to 40 and then shed another half-point.
We’d lean under, but would expect that it might float back up a half-point and would be worth waiting for a slightly better number.
Pick: Under 39½
Final Score: Jets 20, Patriots 16
