Note: If you’re looking
for the 2013 Week 7 matchup between these teams, please go here: New
England Patriots vs. New York Jets Pick.
New York Jets (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) vs. New England Patriots (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS)
NFL Week 2
Date and Time: Thursday, September 12th, 2013
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
TV: NFL Network
by Badger, Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: NYJ +12.5/NE -12.5
Over/Under Total: 43.5
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The early position atop the AFC East leader board will be up for grabs
when the NFL and the NFL Network kickoff their featured Thursday Night Football
game with a divisional showdown between the New York Jets
and the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
New England nearly became an upset victim on the road at Buffalo in week one, but Tom Brady drove the Patriots 49 yards in 12 plays to set up a game-winning 35-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski with five seconds left for a narrow, 23-21, victory. With a three-day week to get ready for their home opener, Brady and his new crew of receivers left themselves with plenty of room for improvement.
The Jets enter their week two division game showdown with the Pats fresh off a gift-wrapped, 18-17, victory over Tampa Bay in the opener on Sunday. Geno Smith was kind of roughed by Bucs linebacker Lavonte David and the penalty set up Jets kicker Nick Folk to kick the game-winner with two seconds left on the clock. The Jets with the rookie Smith at QB seem to play relaxed in the underdog role last weekend, but the results may not necessarily be the same playing on the road in Foxborough.
The Jets will certainly be the underdogs too, because even though the Patriots struggled a ton on Sunday oddsmakers still set the opening point spread with New England as large 12.5-point favorites at home. The early money is heavy on the chalk too, because there are even a few offshore sportsbooks with New England as high as 13 or 14-point favorites.
The over/under total opened at 44.5, but its already dropped to 44 currently at most books.
New Englands offense, which ran a ton a plays but failed to score points really, got news that running back Shane Vereen broke his wrist and will be out for awhile. Vereen led the team (and NFL) in rushing, so that means fumble-prone Stevan Ridley or LeGarrette Blount will get the carries this week. Brady and the Pats will have to go against a re-vamped Jets defense that looked impressive holding Tampa to just 12 first downs and 245 yards of total offense. Although, Tampas 13 penalties certainly had quite a bit to do with the Jets defense looking so good.
BET THE JETS AS A +32.5 UNDERDOG
BY PLACING THEM IN A 20 POINT SUPER TEASER AT BETANYSPORTS
For the second straight week the Patriots defense will get to break in a rookie quarterback, although they sure didnt give Bills rook E.J. Manuel as tough a time as most expected. Jets rookie Geno Smith had a solid debut against Tampa, but playing in front of the Foxborough crowd, with the Patriots determined to redeem themselves a little from a sloppy week-one effort Id worry a little more this week if I were playing on the Jets here.
New England swept the season series with the Jets last year, including a narrow, 29-26, overtime win in Gillette Stadium in October. The Jets covered as 11-point favorites, but that was the only time the Jets have covered the number (1-3 ATS) since they beat the Patriots in the 2011 playoffs.
The over is showing some impressive betting trend stats, going 5-0-1 in the last six head-to-head meetings in New England, and is 7-0-1 in the last eight meetings overall. The over is also 5-0 in the Patriots five Thursday Night games, so Brady, Bilichick and Co., dont mind running it up in primetime every now and then.
Badger’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: I just dont think the Patriots are as good as how high the number that oddsmakers are forced to place on them each week. Its an awfully big number 12.5, even if theyre determined to make amends for their opening dud in Buffalo. Ill take the Jets and the points if you are forcing me.