NFL Week 8 Picks: New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals

New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 10/27/13, 4:05 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Cincinnati -7
Current Betting Line: Cincinnati -5
Opening Total: 40
Current Total: 41.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The New York Jets have alternated wins and losses over their first seven games this season

New York has alternated wins and losses over its first seven games of the season, as it comes off a 30-27 overtime win over the New England Patriots as 3.5-point home underdogs last Sunday. With four sacks against the Patriots, the Jets are third in the league with 24 on the season, which can’t be ignored when making your NFL expert picks in Week 8. Defensively, the team ranks fourth in the league in allowing 302.6 yards per game, while leading all teams in giving up just 3.1 rushing yards per attempt. New York is 5-2 ATS in its last seven overall games.

The Jets are led on the offensive end by quarterback Geno Smith, who completed 17 of 33 passes for 233 yards with one touchdown and one interception last week. He’s completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 1,019 yards with seven touchdowns in the team’s wins, while connecting on just 55.3 percent of his throws in defeats. The franchise has won nine of its past 10 meetings in this series.

Cincinnati has won three games in a row, including back-to-back road wins over the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills—going OVER the betting total in each of those contests. The Bengals have won four one-score games, and the contest they won by 10 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers was tied at halftime. This year marks the first time the team has won its first three home games in head coach Marvin Lewis’ 11 seasons on the sidelines. Cincinnati is 10-1 SU and 6-3-2 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points, with the UNDER going 6-5 in that situation.

The Bengals will need to sure up their pass defense in this matchup, as they allowed a season-high 357 yards passing to Detroit’s Matthew Stafford in Week 7. Cincinnati will have to play without the services of top cornerback Leon Hall, who is out for the season after tearing his right Achilles tendon. Offensively, quarterback Andy Dalton will find it tough to move the football, especially since the unit may become one dimensional due to its inability to run the ball.