The NFL season is upon us, and both the New York Jets and New York Giants will be looking to turn things around and reach the playoffs this year.
Oddsmakers in New Jersey, however, don’t seem to favor either of the two NY-based teams making the playoffs in 2021, with showings similar to recent seasons a more likely outcome.
In college football, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights are a long shot to do much either, making fan bets a high-risk and high-reward prospect.
A quick look at FOX Bet Sportsbook NJ paints a somewhat dire picture for the Giants and the Jets. The Giants are priced at +245 odds to make the playoffs, which may be a bet worth taking if you believe the Giants have what it takes to come back to their former glory and make a run for the Super Bowl similar to their 2011 season.
The Giants are also priced at +115 odds to win more than 7.5 games and -150 to win under 7.5 games, which means a bet in this market may have more value, considering the relatively even odds on both sides.
The New York Jets, on the other hand, have not made the playoffs since 2010 and their likelihood of doing so this season is not looking good, either. New Jersey oddsmakers reflect this quite clearly as the William Hill sportsbook — now rebranded as Caesars Sportsbook NJ — has the Jets at +2,200 odds to win the AFC East and +6,000 to win the conference.
Betting on college teams from New Jersey is not allowed within the state, but fans who want to support the Rutgers Scarlet Knights can do so at bookmakers in other states, such as Pennsylvania.
At the BetRivers Sportsbook PA, Rutgers is priced at +10,000 to win the Big Ten conference, making a bet very risky and not very likely to pay off. For a slightly more realistic bet, a +3,300 can be won by betting on Rutgers to win the Big Ten East.
| Sportsbook | Event | Line |
|---|---|---|
| FOX Bet | Giants make playoffs | +245 |
| Jets make playoffs | +425 | |
| Giants win NFC East | +400 | |
| Jets win AFC East | +1,800 | |
| Giants win NFC championship | +4,000 | |
| Jets win AFC championship | +5,000 | |
| Giants win Super Bowl LVI | +7,500 | |
| Jets win Super Bowl LVI | +10,000 | |
| William Hill (now Caesars) | Giants win NFC East | +400 |
| Jets win AFC East | +2,200 | |
| Giants win NFC championship | +4,000 | |
| Jets win AFC championship | +6,000 | |
| Giants win Super Bowl LVI | +8,000 | |
| Jets win Super Bowl LVI | +12,500 |
Jets and Giants Looking to Recover in 2021
2020 is a year that Jets fans will want to forget quickly. The team had a terrible season, ending with a 2-14 record. A late win against the Los Angeles Rams destroyed their chances at having the top pick in the NFL draft.
Robert Saleh replace Adam Gase as Jets head coach and CJ Mosley is coming to reinforce the defensive line and boost the morale for the entire team. The addition of Jarrad Davis from the Detroit Lions should also help the Jets get more aggressive on defense.
The Jets remain one of the least likely teams to win the AFC at +5,000 odds, but a moneyline bet for them to beat the Carolina Panthers on opening day at +187 could make sense for Jets fans.
The Giants are a team with much higher expectations. They will face the Denver Broncos in their first NFL game of the season. Oddsmakers have the Giants at -105 odds to win the opening game, and +115 to win more than 7.5 games in the regular season, providing some interesting betting options for the Giants fans.
