The NFL sure knows how to schedule games in the last week of the season, huh? High-stakes contests are littered up and down the Week 18 schedule. And the Miami Dolphins vs. the New York Jets are among the most compelling.
Both teams enter the final week of the season needing a win to keep their odds of making the NFL playoffs alive. And while linemakers currently favor the Dolphins by a substantial margin, their struggles over the past few weeks have opened the door for the Jets to shock the general public. On top of that, it was just announced that starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will not be suiting up for Miami. Which team should you bet on? That's what we're here to figure out.
First and foremost, though, here are the latest NFL online betting odds for the New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins game, courtesy of the folks over at BetUS:
As always, double-check these online NFL betting odds until you place your wager. Our Jets vs. Dolphins betting odds are accurate entering Wednesday, January 4. That gives linemakers plenty of time to make changes ahead of the opening kickoff on Sunday, January 8, at 1:15 p.m. EST.
Of course, if you're using the right sportsbook, you don't have to worry about missing last-minute changes to NFL betting odds. That's why we have a catalog of reviews on the top online sportsbooks: to help you find the best online NFL betting sites in the business.
So...can the Dolphins get back on track against the Jets and keep their playoff hopes alive in Week 18? Or is New York better positioned to pull off the upset than we realize?
Are the New York Jets Really a Threat to Upset the Miami Dolphins?
A -225 line on the Dolphins makes it seem like they're no-brainer picks. That couldn't be further from the truth.
As we already mentioned, Miami will be without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is again in concussion protocols. The Dolphin's offense has been unable to function properly without him this season. They imploded earlier in the year when he missed three games, losing every one. It has been the same story this time around. The Dolphins mustered just 20 points in their Week 16 loss to the Green Bay Packers when Tagovailoa wound up playing through concussion-like symptoms, and they then dropped just 21 points without him during their Week 17 loss to the New England Patriots.
Life won't get any easier when facing the Jets. New York is fourth in points allowed per game and has perhaps the best-passing defense in the entire league. Only one team allows fewer net yards per passing attempt right now. That would be tough to contend with if the Dolphins were starting Tagovailoa. It's a huge problem when they roll out Teddy Bridgewater or someone else.
Of course, the Jets are going through their own quarterback controversy. Max White took snaps for them in Week 17, now that Zach Wilson is done for the season. New York responded by tallying just six points during his stint while getting manhandled by the Seattle Seahawks.
It is with slight hesitance, then, that we default to the Dolphins here. They have more individual playmakers on offense than the Jets, thanks to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That should ultimately make all the difference.
OSB Prediction: Miami Dolphins (-225)
Oddsmakers Continue to View the Jets vs. Dolphins as a Pick 'Em Game
Here are the latest NFL point spread betting odds for Dolphins vs. Jets in Week 18:
- Miami Dolphins, -1 (-116)
- New York Jets, +1 (-102)
A one-point spread amounts to a pick 'em. So, naturally, we're sticking with the Dolphins.
To that end, we see zero merits in throwing money the Jets' way. If you think they're going to cover the one-point spread, you might as well just wager on their moneyline and go from a -102 return to a payout of nearly 2-to-1.
OSB Prediction: Miami Dolphins, -1 (-116)
Brace Yourself for an Ugly Offensive Game Between the Jets and Dolphins
Below you can see the latest NFL over/under betting odds for Jets vs. Dolphins in Week 18:
- Over 38.5 (-110)
- Under 38.5 (-110)
This line looks too low at first glance. But then you consider the prospective quarterback matchup (Teddy Bridgewater vs. Mike White). And then you look at how poorly the Jet's offense has fared in recent weeks. New York is averaging just 9.5 points per game over the past four weeks and scored nine points in their last two games.
Frankly, if the Jets score two touchdowns, it'll be a miracle. Similarly, without Tagovailoa, the Dolphins themselves will be lucky to crack 20 points. Don't be surprised if this ends up being one of those 17-12 slugfests.
In fact, if you can sell back points to your sportsbook to drop the under to around 33 points or so, we'd highly recommend it. This game has all the makings of an ultra-low scoring affair, and it wouldn't shock us if the Jets and Dolphins fail to clear even 35 points between them.
OSB Prediction: Under 38.5 (-110)
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