Jets Are A Popular Pick Among Bettors To Exceed Their Woeful Record Of Last Season

Bettors are optimistic about the New York Jets chances this season, at least based upon how they have approached the team’s win-loss total as set by oddsmakers.

The Jets have taken a lot of action at many sportsbooks, not only to win at least six games, but also to even win the AFC East and the Super Bowl. But keep in mind New York was 4-13 in 2021 and hasn’t made the post-season since 2010, the longest drought in the NFL.

Johnny Avello, the head of DraftKings race and sportsbook, noted that DraftKings opened the Jets at 5.5 wins over minus 110 and has since moved the over to minus 165, where it sits today.

When asked for the factors that have made bettors bullish on Gang Green, Avello offered that, “We all know they had a pretty nice draft,” mentioning in particular Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson and Iowa State running back Breece Hall, who will join 2021 fourth-round pick Michael Carter in the backfield.

Avello noted, “Expectations are always high for the Jets. … I think it’s (about) the draft, (free-agent) acquisitions and it’s their schedule.

“If you look at the Jets’ schedule,” he continued, “they play the AFC North and the NFC North. There are some teams there they can beat. You would look at those games and say the Jets can win at least two, possibly three. I think it’s about all of those factors. It’s about (the new) players and it’s about handicapping the schedule.”

As for whether DraftKings and other books will have to pay out on this popular bet, Avello believes that decision will be made by a player the Jets drafted last season. He is quarterback Zach Wilson, who was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021.

“I think there are some high expectations,” Avello noted, “but it’s all going to fall on Zach Wilson. Hopefully, he stays healthy and hopefully, he’s got some more experience now and can make the bettors happy.”

As for the Jets’ co-tenants at MetLife Stadium, the New York Giants, they currently are at under 7 wins, minus 125.

“They had a very good draft, too,” Avello said, “but it’s on the shoulders of that quarterback (Daniel Jones) also, and he hasn’t yet shown he can take that team to another level.

“But Giants and Jets fans are going to stick with their teams. And the Giants’ division is a lot more likely to go topsy-turvy than the Jets’ division. The Eagles are unpredictable, the Cowboys have been unpredictable except for last year, so who knows, perhaps the Giants could have a good year and be in the conversation.”

As for other teams, he noted, “The Chargers (over 10, minus 135) are a team that they’re playing. They think that’s a team that’s going to move up a little this year. They also think the Seahawks, even though they lost a lot, are going to win more than five games. We have them at 5½ (minus 140). I didn’t know what to think of that Seahawks team, but it got to a point where whatever they were doing, it wasn’t working, so maybe now they can start fresh.

“I was a bit surprised by that” action, Avello added.

“Atlanta’s another team that lost their quarterback,” Avello noted, referring to the trade of veteran Matt Ryan to Indianapolis. “They’re betting them under (5 minus 140). He didn’t do a lot when he was there, to be honest with you. Matty Ice wasn’t setting the world on fire. I’ve been a little surprised at some of the moves but handicappers have a way of looking at things differently than oddsmakers.”