Free NFL Pick: New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens: August 24th 2009

New York Jets (0-1 SU & ATS) at Baltimore Ravens (1-0 SU & ATS)
BetUS NFL Football Betting Odds: BALTIMORE -3, Total 32.5

Yes, there is an interesting dynamic here, isn’t there? The Jets are now being led by Rex Ryan, who was defensive coordinator in Baltimore for seven years and was the Ravens’ assistant head coach last year, as John Harbaugh took over the head job. Remember that Ryan was also interviewed for that job vacancy, and lost out despite his many years on the staff, before he was retained by Harbaugh.

Mark Sanchez is going to be the guy who takes the Jets as far as he can. Sanchez is going to get the starting job, because the Jets, when it comes down to it, do not think Kellen Clemens can handle it. Sanchez completed a 48-yard pass on his first attempt, and everyone has been raving about the way he’s performed in practice, right from the beginning of OTA’s (organized team activities).

Sanchez has been informed that he is going to start the game against the Ravens, and he’ll be getting an education as he will be going up against Baltimore’s first-team defense, which didn’t look like it missed a step in the opening pre-season game against Washington. This is what the Ravens did overall against the Redskins – they held Washington to 196 total yards, eleven first downs, one-for-11 on third down, and got two turnovers and six sacks, letting the ‘Skins stay on the field for just 24 minutes.

Will they be in a mood to deal out some punishment to their former coordinator’s new QB? Well, I don’t think they’ll intentionally take it easy. Things may be worse than that, as there is the possibility that three Jets offensive linemen will sit – Nick Mangold and Damien Woody, as well as Alan Faneca, who is definitely out. Those are three serious people, against the first-team Raven crew. One guy who will be gunning for whatever QB the Jets have in the game is Paul Kruger, a talented second-round pick out of Utah who likes to rush the passer and who is wearing #99. Ryan’s foot-in-mouth comment this past week – “I am disappointed that they gave his jersey to some rookie who hasn’t proven s**t.”

Remember also that despite strong play from both Clemens and Sanchez, the Jets still lost at home to the Rams. I’m going to go ahead and buck the trend, where the jets have covered their last five road pre-season games, and lay it with Baltimore, the three-point favorite in the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: BALTIMORE -3 **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)