NFL Football
2008-12-28 - Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
A Sports Betting Pick by Bodog
The NFL playoffs are starting a little early this year. Our Top 3 NFL betting games for Week 17 feature six teams clawing for a spot in the postseason.There will be no tanking; handicappers won’t have to worry about whether the starters will actually play. Plus, it’ll be some of the best football we’ll see this year.
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
Sunday, 28th December 2008 - Kickoff 4:15 p.m. ET
Weather Forecast : 35% chance of rain, 45 degrees, 10mph winds
Miami Dolphins : 10-5 SU, 5-2 Away, 7-8 ATS, Under 9-6
After being cut by the New York Jets when they acquired Brett Favre, Chad Pennington just wanted a chance to be a starter somewhere - anywhere!
Now, he has an opportunity to complete one of the most memorable single-season turnarounds in NFL history and deny his former team a playoff spot as the Miami Dolphins travel to play the Jets with the AFC East at stake.
Miami is in the driver’s seat in the AFC East; a win Sunday over the Jets, and the Dolphins will swim into the playoffs as AFC East Champions after going 1-15 last season.
Dolphins LB Channing Crowder did miss the Week 16 win over Kansas City with a sore left knee. Miami’s defense gave up 492 yards to the Chiefs (+3.5) in a come-from-behind 38-31 victory. Crowder is second on the team with 104 tackles; he had told reporters he was “80 percent” for Week 16.
Pennington and the Dolphins are riding a four-game winning streak, and will travel confidently to New York.
New York Jets : 9-6 SU, 5-2 Home, 7-8 ATS, Over 8-6-1
New York’s situation is more complicated. If New England wins its early-afternoon start in Buffalo, the Jets will be playing for a Wild Card, but they still need the Ravens to lose to the Jaguars in Baltimore.
Brett Favre and the Jets (9-6) are on the verge of a late-season collapse that seemed unimaginable after a 34-13 win at previously unbeaten Tennessee left them 8-3 and atop the AFC East.
The Jets have lost three of their last four games, and Favre was intercepted twice in a 3-13 defeat at snowy Seattle last Sunday, and now need the Jets a victory and some help to reach the playoffs.
Head to Head
This is a rematch of their season opener in Miami, which the Jets took 20-14 as 3-point faves.
The Jets lead this match-up 11-4, which includes a 5-0 run since October 2006.
The Verdict
Despite the public line we have nothing between these two sides, and feel that Miami's great road form and Pennington's quest for personal redemption could give the Fish the edge.
The Pick :
Miami Dolphins 20-17 New York Jets
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take the MIAMI DOLPHINS with the +3 point start.
