Brett and the Jets Look to Light up Struggling Bengals
The last time New York Jets (2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS, 2-2 O/U) quarterback Brett Favre took the field, he tossed a career-high six touchdown passes.
Playing against the lowly Cincinnati Bengals (0-5 SU, 2-3 ATS, 2-3 O/U) this week at Giants Stadium could allow Favre to tie or even surpass that personal record as the winless Bengals don’t figure to offer much resistance as they seek their first win of the 2008-09 NFL season.
Favre completed 24 of 34 passes for 289 yards and those six touchdown passes against the Arizona Cardinals in a Week 4 matchup that New York won 56-35 on Sept. 28 and come into this contest well-rested after having a bye week in Week 5.
The Bengals fell to 0-5 on the season in the BetUS Sportsbook by losing to the Dallas Cowboys 31-22 on Sunday, though they actually didn’t play too bad in giving the Cowboys a bit more than they bargained for in the road loss.
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, suited up and took the field despite his questionable status last week, throwing for 217 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while hooking up with wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
While the Bengals have been the owners of one of the game’s best offenses the last several seasons under Palmer, they have struggled immensely to move the ball this year, ranking 31st in total yardage, (239.2), 27th in passing, 30th in rushing and 29th in scoring, averaging just 14.8 points per game.
Cincinnati has succeeding in stopping opponents’ passing attacks this season, ranking a surprising sixth in pass defense, (167.6 ypg), but that is likely because their opponents have seen they can move the ball by simply running it down the Bengals’ throats.
Cincinnati is ranked 29th in run defense, allowing a whopping 171.0 yards per game on the ground while also ranking an identical 19th across the board in every other meaningful defensive category including scoring, allowing 23.6 points per game.
The Jets acquired Favre in the offseason in the hopes that he could put them into Super Bowl contention this season, but the team is ranked an identical 20th in both, total offense and defense.
New York is sixth in scoring, averaging 28.8 points per game, in large part because of the team’s 10th-ranked passing offense, but are allowing more points per game than they are averaging, ranking 28th in scoring defense by allowing 29.0 points per game.
Here is a look at the key trends for each team, followed by my analysis and NFL Gambling Free Picks:
Bengals
Cincinnati is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Cincinnati’s last 11 games
Cincinnati is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games on the road
Cincinnati is 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games when playing NY Jets
Cincinnati is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Jets
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati’s last 6 games when playing NY Jets
Jets
NY Jets are 6-15 SU in their last 21 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the NY Jets last 8 games
NY Jets are 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the NY Jets last 5 games at home
NY Jets are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games when playing Cincinnati
NY Jets are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing Cincinnati
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the NY Jets last 6 games when playing Cincinnati
NFL Odds
Cincinnati Bengals +6 -110
New York Jets -6 -110
Over 44½ -110
Under 44½ -110
Analysis: First and foremost, BetUS NFL bettors should look to take the ‘Over’ in this contest as I expect both teams to put up their fair share of points in this matchup. While I like the Jets to win this home contest, I’m thinking the Bengals are about due for a win now and could get it against the Jets in this matchup.
At the very least, I say take the Bengals to cover the six-point spread while falling in a closer-than-expected finish.
