NFL betting lines have been affected this week by injuries to starting quarterbacks. The Jets will have to start backup Kellen Clemens as Mark Sanchez is out due to a sprained right knee. Also affecting football odds is the injury to Detroit starting quarterback Matthew Stafford.
NFL betting lines favor the Jets on the road at Tampa Bay while the Lions are big underdogs in football odds in their game at Baltimore. With a healthy Sanchez, the Jets may have been laying more than 3-points in the NFL betting lines against Tampa Bay. The Jets were expected to have Sanchez for this game but head coach Rex Ryan decided to hold his rookie quarterback out. “Mark’s a little upset with this decision, but I think it’s in the best interest of him,” Ryan said.
NFL betting lines show that this will be the ninth start for Clemens in his NFL career and his first since 2007. Sanchez was hurt last week when he dived for a first down in the NFL betting lines win over Buffalo. He had started every game this NFL betting lines season. This game on Sunday against the Bucs is one that the Jets can’t afford to lose in NFL betting lines since they are 6-6 in the AFC East and just a game behind New England for the division lead.
While the Jets are still favored throughout the NFL betting lines and expected to win against the Bucs without Sanchez, the Lions are not expected to be competitive vs. football odds without Stafford. Daunte Culpepper will get the start and the Lions have not played well in the past vs. football odds with him at quarterback. Culpepper is excited to play though. “It feels great,” Culpepper said. “But the thing is I get paid to be ready whenever. I’m ready now.” While Culpepper may be ready to play, those that wager on NFL betting lines are likely to take Baltimore. NFL betting lines indicated that Culpepper has yet to win a game as the starting quarterback for the Lions. At least with Stafford the Lions had been competitive and won games in football odds. With Culpepper starting at quarterback, that is simply not very likely. It doesn’t help that they are facing a Baltimore team in desperate need of a win in NFL betting lines.