posted May 21, 2008 at 15:35 in NFL Free Picks

BetUS Sportsbook has its sports betting odds up for winning the Super Bowl, as well as each of the NFL's eight divisions and two conferences. The defending champion New York Giants are priced at +700 to get to the Big Game as the NFC representative, but what about their neighbors at Giants Stadium? Today we take a look at the chances for the New York Jets.

First let's look at the football betting odds to win the AFC and AFC North divisions, as they appear in BetUS Sportsbook:

BetUS NFL Futures Odds

To Win AFC East

New England Patriots -1000
Buffalo Bills +800
NEW YORK JETS +1000
Miami Dolphins +1200

To win the AFC Championship

New England Patriots +175
San Diego Chargers +450
Indianapolis Colts +500
Jacksonville Jaguars +900
Pittsburgh Steelers +1200
Cleveland Browns +1600
Tennessee Titans +2000
Denver Broncos +2000
Cincinnati Bengals +2200
Baltimore Ravens +2500
Houston Texans +3000
Buffalo Bills +4500
NEW YORK JETS +6000
Miami Dolphins +6600
Kansas City Chiefs +6600
Oakland Raiders +6000

The biggest question for the Jets revolves around who is going to quarterback this team as it moves forward in 2008. Veteran Chad Pennington seems to have reached his limits, though he is known as a smart passer which great accuracy....when healthy. I guess the "when healthy" part is the key, because Pennington is brittle, and eventually he is going to have to give way to someone younger. Coach Erik Mangini thinks that could be Kellen Clemens, who has drafted in the second round out of Oregon two years ago, and who must be given the opportunity to demonstrate whether he belongs in the NFL as a starter. So far, Clemens cannot be classified as a success, having completed just 52% of his passes for five TD's and ten interceptions last season.

I'd have to question whether Thomas Jones is really an answer at running back. Sure, he gained 1119 yards last season. But he is a grinder (3.6 ypc), and the Jets do not use Leon Washington, a back who is a genuine threat to defenses, enough. There is nothing particularly wrong with Jerricho Cotchery and Laveraneus Coles at the wide receiver spots, if Clemens and/or Pennington can find them. Dustin Keller, the tight end out of Purdue, was one of two first-round draft picks and could give New York production right away. And the Jets made major moves to improve the offensive line, which already had a couple of good young players in center Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Guard Alan Faneca, who has been to seven Pro Bowls, came over from Pittsburgh as a free agent, as did Damien Woody, a former Pro Bowler who was drafted in the first round as a center, then moved all over the line before settling at right tackle. The residual effect of this new-look line will, the Jets hope, be beneficial not just for Jones but for the passing game as well.

The Jets were not quiet in the off-season on the defensive side of the ball either. Calvin Pace, formerly of Arizona, was signed as a free agent, and trade acquisition Kris Jenkins, a two-time All-Pro, will try to recapture what seemed lost last year in Carolina. Ohio State's Vernon Gholston, the sixth pick in the draft, will be expected to move right into a starting outside linebacker position and bring heat on opposing passers. But Jonathan Vilma was dealt away, and he was the Jets' best linebacker. In the secondary, New York made a fortuitous move by drafting Darrelle Revis in the first round last year, and he heads up a secondary that is perhaps the area that needed the least work.

We would expect Kellen Clemens to be the slight favorite over Pennington to emerge as the starting quarterback. And if that happens, he will be perhaps the non-rookie with the most question marks surrounding him. While Mangini waits to see whether Clemens was indeed a wise investment in the 2006 draft (as he has to), the Jets could suffer offensively. And there's already a long way to go to overtake defending AFC champion New England and an up-and-coming squad from Buffalo in the AFC East. The Jets should stay ahead of Miami, but that will offer little consolation.

JAY'S PREDICTION FOR 2008:
New York Jets -- 6-10, 3rd place, AFC East
(+1000 to win division, +6000 to win AFC, +8000 to win Super Bowl in the BetUS Super Bowl betting odds)

The 2008 NFL betting season is coming, and if you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The BetUS sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of games, totals and propositions, and you will also find NFL future lines up for the Super Bowl as well. Join BetUS today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLII and beyond!

(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com is a member of the NFL too - that is, "not for long" if you don't get results. He is now a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)