By Doug Kezirian Senior Betting Analyst
Updated 9/7/23 4:25am ET
Longtime sports radio personality Colin Cowherd famously said, and I paraphrase, “I am not paid to be right. I am paid to have an opinion.” Cowherd knows what matters. His bosses prioritize his thoughtful opinion with unique insight and perception over accurate predictions. It’s his analysis that sets him apart and consumes audiences.
Sports betting is a much different world. It involves binary outcomes and bettors are ultimately evaluated on profit. So, as much as I would like to step into the batter’s box, I am passing on the NFL’s biggest offseason storyline – Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets – as of now but that can certainly change.
You can actually wager right now on New York’s 17 regular season games. The Jets are underdogs in six of them. Additionally, 11 of those 17 have a point spread of 2.5 or less. That means the oddsmakers expect numerous close games that will likely come down to the final few minutes.
Additionally, Rodgers is 39 years old. He’s reached an age where he can no longer bounce back from any hit. In fact, he played last year with an injured thumb that limited his production. Could that be an isolated event? Sure, but I am unwilling to bet on it.
On top of that, head coach Robert Saleh is unproven and untested. And will the New York media eventually push Rodgers’ buttons? After all, he has a knack for getting rubbed the wrong way. The AFC East is loaded, and I could see the Jets, Bills or Dolphins winning the division.
Rodgers could certainly deliver on the hype but since I am evaluated on cashing tickets, I prefer other options on the betting board. I’ll let the sports talk shows dissect Rodgers and live in a world without significant consequence.
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