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Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets NFL Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on December 30, 2009

The 10-5 Cincinnati Bengals take on the 8-7 New York Jets in a Week 17 AFC showdown on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Last week, the Bengals wrapped up the AFC North Division title with a 17-10 win over the Chiefs. Meanwhile, New York kept its playoff hopes alive with a 29-15 win over the previously undefeated Colts. Now, all New York needs to do is win and it’s in. The Bengals and the Jets last met last season with the Jets winning 26-14 for their sixth victory in the last seven meetings. Overall, New York holds a 14-7 lead in the all-time series. NFL odds makers expect New York to be playoff bound, listing the Jets as a 10-point favorite with the total set at 35.

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With Cincinnati already in the playoffs, and with the best it can do being a No. 3 seed with a win and some help, odds makers are confident that New York will take care of business to make it in. But one thing that could cost the Jets a playoff berth is the ball security of Mark Sanchez. Cincinnati boasts one of the better secondaries in the NFL and Sanchez leads the entire AFC with 20 interceptions. The rookie signal caller was just 12 of 19 for 106 yards last week as New York basically took the ball out of his hands and relied on their running game. The Jets were able to rack up 202 yards on the ground against Indy, but they may not find running the football as easy against a Cincy defense that has held 11 of 15 opponents under 100 yards rushing this season. If Cincy is able to limit the New York ground game, it could be up to Sanchez to be the hero or the goat. It is worth noting that the Jets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. If you like New York to keep cashing tickets in Week 17, bet the Jets at -10 at Bodog.

While odds makers aren’t expecting the Bengals to show up, head coach Marvin Lewis doesn’t expect his team to go anything but full speed in order to enter the playoffs in the right frame of mind. With a win and a New England loss, the Bengals would claim the No. 3 seed. But with a loss, Cincinnati would face this same Jets team at home in the first round of the playoffs. “This team can’t turn it on and off,” Lewis said. “It’s not old enough, it’s not mature enough. We started the season as the second-youngest team in the NFL. I don’t think we’ve gotten older over the season. Some of our older players are no longer playing.”

While Lewis has said that he wants his guys to go all out, that doesn’t mean that he won’t be careful with his starters. That could mean that former Chiefs star running back Larry Johnson could see some action in relief of Cedric Benson to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Benson became the only player in franchise history to record six 100-yard rushing games in a single season with his performance last week. Johnson has 166 yards on a 4.5 yards per carry average in limited time for the Bengals. It is worth noting that the Bengals are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog. If you think odds makers are spotting Cincinnati too many points, bet the Bengals at +10 at Bodog.

Take your book to school in Week 17 with winning pro football picks from World Champion handicapper Jimmy Boyd.

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