Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets Odds
At 8-2, the New York Jets are tied with the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons for the best record in the league. The Jets, however, haven’t been playing like the best team in the NFL in recent weeks.
Sunday’s win over Houston was New York’s third in a row, but it was also its third straight scare. After needing overtime to outlast both Detroit and Cleveland, teams with a combined 5-15 record, the Jets needed a Mark Sanchez touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with just 10 seconds remaining to escape the Texans. Perhaps the Jets will have an easier time with the struggling Cincinnati Bengals in Thursday’s Thanksgiving finale.
After enduring six straight losses by eight or fewer points to some of the best teams in the NFL, the Bengals had an excellent opportunity to get back in the win column with Buffalo coming to town. It appeared Cincinnati would take advantage of that opportunity when it led 31-14 at the half. However, the Bengals were outscored 35-0 in the second half as Buffalo handed them a seventh straight defeat. One has to wonder if the defending AFC North champs will be ready enough emotionally to get back up Thursday.
NFL odds makers have listed the Jets as an 8.5-point favorite with the total set at 43.5.
The Jets have dominated this matchup in recent years. In fact, they are 8-1 against Cincinnati since 1992. Last season, New York defeated Cincinnati twice. The Jets routed the Bengals 37-0 in a game where Cincinnati was resting players for the playoffs. They then defeated the Bengals 24-14 the following week in the first round of the postseason.
New York ran the ball 98 times for 428 yards in those two wins. Running the football figures to be the recipe for victory again Thursday.
Cincinnati ranks 23rd in the league in rushing defense, allowing 118.3 yards per game. During its seven-game losing streak, it has allowed six opponents to rush for 116 or more yards. The Bengals could have their work cut out for themselves against one of the best running teams in the NFL this week.
Led by future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson, New York ranks 4th in the NFL at 145.9 rushing yards per game.
It is worth noting that Cincinnati is 0-6 against the spread versus AFC East division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
If Cincinnati comes ready to play, it should have a chance to keep this one close. Each of New York’s last four wins have come by six or fewer points. Turnovers have been the biggest reason for such slim victories.
After committing just one turnover in their first five games, the Jets have given the ball away 11 times in their last five. Also, the Jets forced 12 turnovers during their first five games but have only forced five in their last five.
The Cincinnati defense may be banged up, but it has found ways to force turnovers all season. In fact, the Bengals have come up with 20 takeaways in their last nine games. However, Cincy has also committed 20 turnovers during this span. Simply taking care of the football will go a long way toward keeping this one close against a Jets team that has been coughing it up a lot lately.
It is worth noting that road underdogs (or pick ‘ems) after seven or more consecutive losses, provided they have a losing record on the season, are 24-5 against the spread in the second half of the season over the last 10 seasons. This system is a perfect 5-0 against the spread the last three seasons.
