Dolphins Get Big Win Over Jets, Now Look to Steelers
The playoffs have essentially started in the AFC already. With so many teams fighting for the last AFC Wild Card Spot, there is almost always a match-up between teams in the running. Last week, one such game was the one between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. Both came in ties for the last spot with a bunch of others at 5-6. Miami won the game 23-3 to stay in a tie for the last spot. This week they face a team in the Pittsburgh Steelers who lost just such a game last week when they went down to the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night. So for the Steelers, this likely is an elimination game.
Miami can ill afford to lose it either if they want to keep pace with the Ravens who are the only other 6-6 team and who have the tie breaker advantage over them with their 26-23 win over the Fins. Baltimore has a rather easy game this week at the 3-8-1 Minnesota Vikings, so Miami has to keep up. Luckily, the game is in Miami which should help. Cold weather has never been much of a friend, although the game last week was up in New York.
The Jets will need to get things headed back in the right direction now. They are a mess on offense once again with rookie Geno Smith struggling. Last week he was benched again in the second half in favor of Matt Simms. This week they will visit a well rested team in the Oakland Raiders who also played on Thanksgiving. The Tennessee Titans and San Diego Chargers are tied with the Jets at 5-7. Both face difficult road games this week with the Titans visiting the Denver Broncos and the Chargers at the New York Giants. So with a win the Jets could find themselves back in it.
Carbon Sports has the odds on these games:
Pittsburgh at Miami– The Steelers are -3.5 -105 and the Dolphins are +3.5 -115 ATS. Over/Under is 54.5 with both over and under -110. We like Miami +3.5 in this one. We also like the under -110.
Baltimore at Minnesota– Ravens are -7 -115 and the Vikings are +7 -105 ATS. Over/Under is 43 with both -110. We like the Vikings +7 -105 and the under -110. The Vikings have taken two tough teams in a row into overtime and came away with a tie and a win. So with seven points and at home, we feel pretty good about them.
Tennessee at Denver– The Titans are +13 -115 and the Broncos are -13 -105 ATS. Over/under is 50 with both -110. We are going to go with Denver -13 -105 and the over -110. Manning will put up some points this week at home. They have their sights set on the Super Bowl after that tough two game road trip.
New York Jets at Oakland– The Jets are -2.5 -115 and the Raiders are +2.5 -105 ATS. Over/Under is 40 with both -110. We like the Raiders +2.5-105 and the under -110 just because we don’t know if the Jets can score any points.
San Diego at New York Giants- The Chargers are -3.5 -110 and the Giants are +3.5 -110 ATS. Over/Under is 48 with both -110. We like the Giants +3.5 and the over -110. We think the giants will not only cover, but win the game. They’ve been very good since that terrible 0-6 start.
