NFL opening line report: Week 13
By STEPHEN NOVER
Ready for an all-New York Super Bowl?
The idea isn’t so laughable now that the New York Jets have won consecutive road games against New England and Tennessee.
New York’s schedule the rest of the way isn’t too taxing either. The Jets host Denver Sunday followed by a road game at San Francisco, then home to Buffalo, at Seattle and finish by hosting Miami. The combined record of those opponents is 23-32.
The New York Giants have a bulging three-game lead in the NFC East Division. Both the Jets and Giants, though, face a potential danger spot this week. The Jets are a heavy home favorite against Denver, while the Giants are laying a field goal on the road against division rival Washington. That line may move up to 3.5 before the weekend.
Denver’s defense is battered. All of its starting linebackers are out. The Broncos have two things going for them, however – Jay Cutler and being in the AFC Western Division.
Oddsmakers have installed the Jets as 7.5-point favorites. The Jets will have to guard against a letdown being the toast of the Big Apple this week after dealing Tennessee its first defeat.
“The Jets are for real,” said Mike Seba, a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants. “You beat New England and Tennessee on the road in back-to-back weeks you’re for real.
“Brett Favre gets a lot of the attention, but a big key for the Jets is their defense being so improved.”
The Jets ranked No. 3 in rush defense. Their 27th ranked pass defense could get a test from Cutler, though.
The Giants were at -3 minus with the juice as high as -125, giving indications that they could be headed into 3.5-point chalk range.
Despite missing Brandon Jacobs and Plaxico Burress for most of the game, the Giants still won and covered on the road Sunday against Arizona.
“That just shows you how good they are, not missing a beat without those two guys,” Seba said.
Seba made the Giants -4.5. LVSC’s number on the game was Giants -3.5. This is a division revenge game for the Redskins, who are in a must-win spot compared to the Giants. New York has won 15 of its last 16 road games. Perhaps the due factor is ready to kick in?
LVSC opened San Diego -4.5 hosting Atlanta. The number was higher at most books either at 5 or 5.5.
“We probably opened the Chargers a little short,” Seba said. “But we’re done with the Chargers. Every week you think they’re going to snap out of it and they don’t. They’re just in a funk. They just don’t have it. They were neck and neck with Kansas City at home.”
The Chargers edged the Chiefs two weeks ago, 20-19.
LVSC was prepared to open Arizona as a 1-point road favorite Thanksgiving night at Philadelphia if Eagles coach Andy Reid named Kevin Kolb his starting quarterback instead of Donovan McNabb. Reid struck with McNabb.
Based on that announcement, the oddsmakers at LVSC suggested an opening-line recommendation of Eagles -2.5. Most books were at Eagles -3.
“I couldn’t make it 3,” Seba said. Anybody who wants to lay 3 with the Eagles can be my guest.”
LVSC was high on its opening recommendation of Indianapolis -6.5 at Cleveland. The Browns were either +4 or 4.5 on Monday, depending on the book.
“I’d rather be high on the Colts than get steamed on them,” Seba said. “The Browns look like they’ve packed it in.”
Now all the Colts have to do is hope the Cleveland weather isn’t too bad on Sunday. If the forecast looks good, the number could rise.