Sports betting

Monday Night Football Preview: Jets vs. Dolphins

by Chad Rogers | October 13 2009

When the NFL season began five weeks ago the New York Jets had this Monday Night Football date circled on the calendar but first there was going to be some questions to answer along the way. A falloff at the end of last season lead to a new head coach and with a rookie quarterback pencilled in as the opening day starter; even looking past Week 1 would have been considered too far ahead.

Miami was coming off their first playoff game since the 2001 season after reversing its course from a 1-15 record in 2007. With question marks surrounding all three AFC East division rivals, the Dolphins had reason to be optimistic.

After the way things have gone through the first month of the season, setting up to face the "new" New York Jets provides very little room for optimism.

The Jets have clicked on both sides of the ball paying football bettors in each of the first three weeks of the season. As an underdog in Houston in Week 1, New York won straight-up by double-digits. Underdog bettors and the rest of the football betting world took true notice in Week 2 when the Jets upset Tom Brady and his Patriots. In Week 3 against a desperate Tennessee Titans squad the NFL's new poster boy, Mark Sanchez, showed poise and perseverance in a 24-17 win as small home favorites.

Online sportsbooks listed New York as TD-plus dog last week in New Orleans and a Saints team that has climbed to the top of the wagering charts as a Super Bowl favorite grounded the Jets with their first loss. In Week 4. That was also the time when Miami earned its first victory of the season and suddenly this marquee matchup has earned appeal with bettors and football fans alike.

The NFL odds listed on this one are favoring the Jets by as many as three points although when the betting line opened it was New York -1. The total on the game for Over/Under bettors is 36 across the board, the lowest by far for a Monday Night game this season. Through the first four weeks of the season the Monday Night games have produced four overs and just one under and in the three divisional matchups we've seen three overs and no unders. (Week 1 featured a Monday Night Football double-header)

The Dolphins will have QB Chad Henne making just his second start under center in place of the injured Chad Pennington. Henne will run the Wildcat offense but Jets HC Rex Ryan is familiar with the scheme after facing Miami twice last season when Ryan was defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.

If the Jets can control the Wildcat and get pressure on Henne the second-year QB will get a taste of why New York's defense is the talk of the league this year. Henne was sacked six times in his debut vs. Buffalo but shook them off and completed 14-of-22 passes for 115 yards and a TD.

This is the second divisional matchup of the season for either team and it could be critical in shaping the playoff scenario in December. Both teams are well aware of the importance and it shapes up to be an excellent game.

NFL Picks: I'm taking the "Under" 36 points in this one tonight as my NFL pick.

Enjoy the game.

Sportsbook Bonuses