Giants, Jets enter Week 1 as home underdogs to division rivals
The Giants and Jets open the season at home in primetime, and neither is getting respect from Vegas.
Both teams are home underdogs in their respective Week 1 matchups, according to betting lines available Monday before Week 1.
The Giants host the Cowboys at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday and are 3.5-point underdogs (-115) on FanDuel.
The Jets, who host the Bills at 8:15 p.m. ET next Monday, are 2.5-point home ‘dogs (-110) on FanDuel.
Home teams are usually spotted three points, meaning there’s a perceived significant gap between both New York teams and their division rivals.
Not that these lines are surprising.
The Giants are a shocking 1-11 in their last 12 meetings with the Cowboys, including last year’s sweep. The teams split the betting series, though.
The under-manned Cowboys beat the Giants, 23-16, at MetLife Stadium as one-point underdogs, while the Giants covered as 10.5-point underdogs on Thanksgiving in their 28-20 loss, per the Action Network.
The good news for Big Blue fans is the team went 13-4 against the spread (ATS) last year, per the Action Network, in its first season under Brian Daboll.
The Giants are hoping new tight end Darren Waller, the returning Saquon Barkley and continuity in the offensive and defensive schemes will allow them to build off last year’s playoff season.
The Jets, even after adding former MVP Aaron Rodgers, are still viewed as a few steps below the three-time-defending division champions.
The Bills have beaten the Jets in five of their last six matchups, although the Jets upset the Bills last year at MetLife Stadium as 11-point underdogs.
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The Jets actually covered the spread in both games last year against Buffalo, also rewarding backers when they lost, 20-12, as 10-point underdogs in Buffalo on Dec. 11.
Gang Green posted an 8-9 ATS mark last year.
Both teams’ showings at home in Week 1 could be good indicators of whether they are ready to challenge for conference supremacy or still have ways to go to be among the best.
But bettors won’t mind as long they as they cover.
