3 Reasons To Bet Bills Over Jets On Thursday Night

Expect Bills fans to be loud and proud for their team's home opener Thursday night. (Photo credit: Keith Allison via Foter.com / CC BY-SA)


Thursday’s Bills/Jets game saw the biggest line movement on the Week 2 NFL odds, with Buffalo going from a 3-point favourite to a 1-point underdog.

Buffalo looked awful in its debut, especially on offence, gaining just 11 first downs and 160 total yards in a 13-7 loss to the Ravens. The Jets nearly pulled off a small upset over the Bengals, losing on a last-minute field goal.

But before you blindly hop on the Jets bandwagon for the Thursday Night Football matchup, make sure you consider these 3 factors that are in Buffalo’s favour this week.

1. Bills Are In A Bounceback Spot, In Their Home Opener


This is a make-or-break season for the Bills – especially coach Rex Ryan, who’s reportedly been told he’ll get canned if the team doesn’t make the playoffs this year.

Efforts like Sunday in Baltimore are not acceptable, and you can be sure Ryan’s let them know it throughout a short week of practice.

Also, the Bills’ rabid fan base doesn’t usually lose hope until November, and they’ll be primed to whoop it up in prime time as Buffalo plays its home opener against a hated division rival. Be sure not to underestimate what home field advantage can mean in this spot.

2. Jets have struggled vs Buffalo’s running game


New York had a really good run defence last year – except when they faced the Bills.

Buffalo averaged more than 130 yards per game on the ground in 2 meetings last year with the Jets, including 148 yards in the first meeting. New York finished the year ranked second in the league in running yards allowed per game (83.4).

In the second matchup between New York and Buffalo, the Jets allowed the Bills to rush for 113 yards – even though the Jets needed a win to make the playoffs, and even though LeSean McCoy did not play for Buffalo.

3. Rex Ryan owns Ryan Fitzpatrick


Much has been made this week about Ryan Fitzpatrick’s career numbers against Rex Ryan, and for good reason.

Dating back to 2008 when Fitzpatrick played for the Bengals and Ryan was Baltimore’s defensive co-ordinator, Fitzpatrick has averaged 166 passing yards per game with nearly as many interceptions (12) as touchdowns.

In 9 starts versus Ryan-led defences, Fitzpatrick is 1-8. That includes last year’s regular-season finale, when the Jets QB was intercepted 3 times in the fourth quarter alone.

The Bills have won 5 straight games versus the Jets, and 6 of the last 7. They’ve also covered the home spread in their last 4 home games versus New York.