PPH Pro Football Betting -- Odds on Big Apple NFL Teams Are Big
NFL training camps are getting started this week, and in two of these camps, representing the largest media market in the United States, there are quarterback questions.
Needless to say, there were disappointing seasons for both the New York Giants and New York Jets in 2013. But can WagerHome.com patrons expect more from these squads that underachieved in the Big Apple (okay, across the river from it) last year?
As far as the Giants are concerned, the questions are not about who is going to start at quarterback for the team but what kind of shape Eli Manning is going to be in after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle, and coming off a season where he threw 27 interceptions. They had to do something to perk him up, and that they did, by spending a first-round draft choice on a receiver, LSU's Odell Beckham Jr.
Manning will be working with a different offensive scheme for the first time in a while this season. Kevin Gilbride is out as offensive coordinator, and replacing him is Ben McAdoo, who spent the last couple of season as the quarterback coach of the Green Bay Packers. He'll be bringing a West Coast offensive approach to the Giants (priced at +3500 to win the Super Bowl in the NFL futures at WagerHome.com), which is something that Manning will have to get used to. And then there is the retirement of Chris Snee (just announced) that will open up a hole at guard. But as long as the two-time Super Bowl MVP has some receivers, he should be alright.
Beckham had a hamstring injury that bothered him during the OTA's, but there is a certain speed element he offers that will stretch the defense so that people like Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham can deal with a little less in the shorter routes.
With David Wilson still something of a question mark, the Giants (who are priced at -105 to go under the .500 mark) are hoping that Rashard Jennings, who suddenly came alive last season at Oakland, can be an answer at running back, where they have been awful.
Interestingly, in an interview with the New York Post, co-owner John Mara would not commit to saying that Tom Coughlin could leave on his terms when the time came. "That’s just not the way this business is in this day and age,” Mara said. “Let’s hope that it goes that way, but we haven’t even had that discussion yet."
Meanwhile with the Jets (+6000 to win Super Bowl XLIX at WagerHome.com), Geno Smith's ratio of TD's to interceptions was even worse than Manning's (12 to 21), as he was clearly in a bit over his head as he was inserted into the starting QB slot. Mark Sanchez isn't around, but the team did bring in Michael Vick, with plans presumably to have him as the backup.
The opinion of many WagerHome customers is that Smith was the choice of Jets' management to start last year, even though Rex Ryan wanted to give Sanchez a fair chance (which was cut short by injury). In this training camp, they appear to be just handing the keys to the car over to him. For how long is another question.
If Smith struggles again, how quickly would Ryan pull the trigger on a change? There probably are not very many people who will tell you that the Jets have a better chance at making the playoffs with Smith at quarterback than Vick. If winning is what this is all about, then this move is illogical unless Smith makes some rapid improvement. Ryan sounds like a believer. "Make no mistake," he says, "Geno Smith, he's gonna be hard to beat out, I'm just telling you."
For his sake, we hope he's right. Currently the over/under on wins for the Jets in football betting has them -155 to exceed seven victories. That isn't going to get done on defense alone.
The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks are the co-favorites right now to win the Super Bowl, checking in at +400 apiece in the NFL futures. San Francisco is +600, with New England at +650, Green Bay at +900 and New Orleans at +1200 in the latest established odds at WagerHome.com. Atlanta, which was 4-12 last year, is +2500, joining a number of teams at that price, and they are even money to exceed 8.5 wins. Houston, with the disastrous 2-14 mark in 2013, goes with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB for new coach Bill O'Brien, and the Texans are -150 to go higher than 7.5 wins, as well as +3000 to win the Super Bowl.
If you are planning to be in Las Vegas anytime soon, you may want to visit the Las Vegas Hilton sportsbook and register for the 2014 SuperContest, which awards big money to those who can handicap against the number the best over the course of the NFL season. Last year's champion, David Forhardt-Lane, took home over $557,000 for his efforts. You've got until September 6 to enter personally at the sportsbook (along with your proxy, if you're going to use one).
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- Charles Jay, Gambling911.com
