NFL Week 17 Picks: New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins

New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday, 12/29/13, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Miami -6.5
Current Betting Line: Miami -6.5
Opening Total: 41
Current Total: 41.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Rex Ryan might be coaching his final game with the New York Jets Sunday

New York has alternated wins and losses over its last four games, as it comes off a 24-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns as 2.5-point home favorites in Week 16, while winning the statistical battle for the first time in eight contests. The Jets may start preparing for a future without current head coach Rex Ryan, which is important to consider when making your NFL betting predictions. New York is 1-5 SUATS as road underdogs of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons, with no clear edge in terms of the betting total (3-3 Over/Under).

The Jets need a huge performance out of rookie signal-caller Geno Smith, who will be playing near his hometown of Miramar, FL, when he suits up at Sun Life Stadium, which is hard to ignore when looking over the NFL betting lines. Smith has thrown for 21 interceptions and has a 55.3 completion percentage, but he has set a franchise record with 2,856 passing yards. The team has dropped six of the last nine meetings in this AFC East rivalry, while the last six games at this venue have been decided by a combined 23 points.

Miami had its three-game winning streak snapped last time out, as it suffered a 19-0 defeat to the Buffalo Bills as one-point road underdogs, while getting out-gained by 287 yards. The Dolphins need to get their running game going to create balance in the offense, as they’ve rushed for 52 or fewer yards in five games—resulting in a 1-4 record in that situation. “When you are one-dimensional, it becomes very hard to win in this league,” commented offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. Miami is 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS as favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 5-0-1 in those six opportunities.

The Dolphins allowed a season-high 203 yards on the ground last week, while they rank 25th in the league in that particular category. Offensively, Miami must do a better job of protecting second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has been sacked a league-high 58 times.