Thursday Night Football Betting Picks: Denver Broncos at New York Jets
In what could be the least appealing game of the NFL season, the New York Jets will play host to the Denver Broncos in this week’s Thursday Night Football game. Apparently the NFL hoped to set the bar so low for viewers on Thursday that Sunday would exceed expectations for NFL fans. While this game clearly has some meaning for long-term draft prospects but not much else, nothing will stop sports bettors from taking sides on Thursday night. Here’s a sports betting preview and Thursday Night Football betting picks for the Broncos at the Jets.
NFL Betting Tips: Use RotoGrinders odds tool to compare NFL Week 4 betting lines across the online sports betting industry and determine which sportsbook is best for your TNF betting picks.
Broncos at Jets NFL Betting Odds
Spread: Jets -1.5
63% of bets backing New York, per ScoresandOdds.com.
Over/Under: 40.5
58% of bets on the over.
Broncos at Jets TNF Betting Preview
Alright, everyone. Buckle up. The analysis for this game could get ugly… very quickly. The New York Jets and Denver Broncos have been competing with each other in 2020 in an effort to sink to the bottom faster than the other. The Jets look hapless in all phases with questions about the quirky head coach piling up game after game. The Broncos suffered a rash of injuries early in the season — not unlike the Jets — including one to their young quarterback, Drew Lock. After the Jeff Driskel debacle in Week 3, Denver decided to hand over the offensive reins to Boise State standout, Brett Rypien.
The Jets opened the week as underdogs at home against the Broncos. Throughout the week, and with the Rypien announcement, sports bettors are backing the Jets all the way to a -2 number at most online sports betting sites. Bettors either need to update their eyeglasses prescription or are weary of Brett Rypien making his first start on the road across the country in New York. Should bettors be worried?
While the situation certainly screams for a home victory, the Jets have not done anything to inspire confidence at any point in the first three games of the 2020 season. The Jets are the only team left in the NFL to not hold a lead at any point in their three games. Josh Allen, the division rival Bills’ quarterback, boasts 10 total touchdowns on the season. The Jets and their roomies, the Giants, only total 6 combined touchdowns. So far, Sam Darnold only has three passing touchdowns — unless you count the two passes returned for a touchdown by the Colts last week in Indianapolis.
Luckily, the Jets defense is providing the type of effort that cleans up offensive woes. That’s a lie. Allowing 31.3 yards per game, the Jets allow the fifth-worst number of fantasy points to opposing running backs (30.70). Once stout against the run in 2019, the loss of CJ Mosley and jettison of Jamal Adams to Seattle are opening up holes everyone in the Jets’ defense.
So, Denver and the points, right? Not so fast. The Broncos are riddled with injuries and they are not insignificant. In Week 3, Jurrell Casey tore his biceps and joined starters Von Miller, AJ Bouye, Mark Barron, and Dre’Mont Jones on the injured list. Add Drew Lock and Courtland Sutton and a couple of starting tackles to that list, and the Broncos are very thin. Brett Rypien will take over for Jeff Driskel after Driskel set the quarterback position backward by a few years against Tampa Bay.
The Broncos average 4.6 yards per play and 15 points per game. Both of those numbers actually represent improvements on the Jets’ numbers, but still are indicative of a team that is grasping at straws. With Rypien now taking over the reins and nothing special in his scouting report, the big factor on Thursday night seems to be the home field.
Jamison Crowder appears poised to return and could give Sam Darnold a consistent target to find when trouble mounts. The Jets will be highly motivated to perform, as Adam Gase’s seat is scorching with each loss. Recently dubbed an offensive genius by the Johnson family, Gase is steering a ship averaging 263.7 total yards per game. Gase’s ship is taking on water fast and might not survive a loss at home to the Broncos in ugly fashion.
Thursday Night Football Betting Picks
With Jamison Crowder back and the Broncos traveling across the country, I cannot help but find the Jets -1.5 number on PointsBet appealing. The Jets are really bad but the Broncos are not even remotely close to good. Given the home-field environment — I cannot believe I am typing these words — I want to lay the 1.5 with the Jets against a first-time starting quarterback on the road. This game will be ugly and a tough sweat. Hopefully, Darnold will protect the football and make enough plays to get the win. I will lay the points with the Jets.
TNF Betting Pick: New York Jets -1.5 (PointsBet)
Editor’s note: PointsBet just launched their online sportsbook in Illinois and Colorado. Sign up at PointsBet to get these odds and $1000 in free bets!
Broncos and Jets Player Props
Here are my first touchdown picks for Thursday Night Football at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Noah Fant +1000
Chris Herndon +1050
Any Other Denver Broncos Player +2500
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Here are my picks for one of the “More or Less” games at Monkey Knife Fight for tonight’s matchup.
Sam Darnold More Than 223.5 Passing Yards
Jerry Jeudy More Than 4.5 Receptions
Melvin Gordon More Than 65.5 Rushing Yards
Jamison Crowder More Than 55.5 Receiving Yards
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