posted June 16, 2008 at 17:10 in NFL Articles

BetUS NFL Betting Odds: N.Y. Jets -3

NOTABLE STAT: Miami was 32nd in rush defense in '07 (153.5 ypg allowed)

KEY NFL FOOTBALL BETTING TREND: Jets are 8-0-1 ATS in last nine meetings

(For more useful stats and trends, visit our special Matchup Tool)

The Miami Dolphins (1-15 SU, 5-9-2 ATS in 2007) play their first regular season game under the new Bill Parcells-Tony Sporano regime when they play host to the New York Jets (4-12 SU, 6-9-1 ATS) in the NFL season opener, scheduled for Sunday, September 7 at 1 PM ET at Dolphin Stadium (natural turf) in Miami.

Here are some NFL betting trends as they relate to this sports betting matchup:

* NY has lost ten of its last 13 games SU

* NY has covered five of its last eight games

* NY has lost eight of its last nine road games SU

* NY has played six of its last seven games UNDER the total

* MIA has lost 18 of its last 19 games SU

* MIA has lost eight of its last nine home games SU

* MIA has played four of its last five games OVER the total

* MIA has played six of its last eight home games OVER the total

* NY is 8-0-1 ATS in the last nine meetings

* NY has won seven of the last eight meetings SU

* NY has won 16 of the last 20 meetings SU

* NY has covered nine of the last ten meetings in Miami

The Jets have their own quarterback situation to sort out, and it could well be that Kellen Clemens, who was the second-round draft choice for them a couple of years ago but completed just 52% of his passes, will be the starter. Erik Mangini is going to need to know whether he can go forward with someone who was drafted to one day take over the starting job.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for Miami's Jake Long, the top choice in this year's draft, to make a big impact, don't hold your breath. The Dolphins have a lot of areas they have to sort out, not the least of which is who is going to play quarterback. Parcells has generally not been crazy about using youngsters at the position (yes, Parcells, as we don't forget who really runs this team), which leads us to believe John McCown, historically an ineffective passer, will get the start, although if he has a big camp, Chad Henne, who Long blocked for at Michigan, might be inserted. The Dolphins can run the ball, if Ronnie Brown rebounds from injury, but they'll have a hard time once again moving it through the air.

Don't discount that the Jets' new pass-rushing acquisitions, Kris Jenkins and rookie vernon Gholston, could figure into things here. But what about Miami's Jason Taylor, who did not go to mini-camp and was not expected in the regular training camp, at least by Tony Sporano (not, that's not a typo, kids). Could it be that Parcells' hard-ass attitude is going to blow it with a veteran player once again? Or is Taylor upset that Miami rather unceremoniously cut his brother-in-law (Zach Thomas) upon Parcells' arrival? Either way, Taylor could be absent, and wherever he goes, he's going to take Miami's pass rush with him.

Sure, the Jets, who are only a year removed from going to the playoffs, have some fundamental edges over a Miami team that lacks personnel in a lot of places. But what certainly cannot be ignored is the history between these two. The Jets have simply been dominant, going 8-0-1 ATS in the last nine meetings and suffering only two pointspread losses in the last twenty. They will throttle Miami if they get the opportunity, especially now that Parcells is at the controls.

Going with a road favorite who went 4-12 last year may, under normal circumstances, seem outrageous. But these are not normal circumstances. We will lay the field goal with the Jets, the three-point NFL gambling odds favorite in the BetUS Sportsbook NFL football betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: N.Y. JETS (-3) ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

The 2008 NFL betting season is around the corner! 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 futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join BetUS today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLIII and beyond!

(Charles Jay of 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)