NFL Futures: The up and down run of head coach Rex Ryan has made for some promising, perplexing, and sometimes absurd, ridiculous and abysmal moments for the New York Jets. For any other head coach with his record and antics, a date with the “firing squad” would be a certainty but Ryan returns for a sixth season in 2014 after failing to post a winning record and or playoff berth the past three seasons. The Jets opened as a 66/1 choice to win the Super Bowl and were a 28/1 choice to win the AFC championship. The Jets had an over under win total of 7 with -135 over and +105 under.
Geno Must Deliver
QB Geno Smith was wildly erratic as a rookie starting QB last year as he at times was promising and effective but too many other times was a big reason for the Jets finishing 8-8. Defense was the strength of the team, and that is a Ryan specialty as the Jets ranked 5th overall in the NFL for total defense. If Smith can improve significantly, which is a huge if, the Jets may have enough to sneak into a wild card spot.
Handicapper’s Notes
The Jets have covered the spread in eight out of their last 14 games at home with just eight out of their last 20 home games at MetLife Stadium going under the total. The Jets have not been a good betting value on the road with just seven payouts in their last 18 away games as five out of their last seven road games have gone over the total. The Jets have covered the spread in nine out of their last 15 games as a favorite with just six out of their last 16 games as a favorite going under the total. The Jets have come away with the money in just nine out of their last 20 games as a dog with just nine out of those 20 games as a pup going over the total.
Our Prognosis
This has proven to be one of the most dysfunctional franchises in all of sports and there is nothing that proves that Ryan is anything more than a clown of a head coach that is better suited for a defensive coordinator’s job. It’s a bad bet to believe in the Jets.
