Tim Boyle, the quarterback for the New York Jets, will start the game against the Dolphins. Adrian Kraus/AP Photo (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
You do not see an NFL quarterback in the modern era with the kind of stat line that Tim Boyle had in college. Not even one from a college quarterback, that's for sure.
Boyle threw one touchdown and thirteen interceptions while at UConn. Really. But he made it into the NFL after getting a shot. He began playing in the NFL in 2019. His three touchdowns and nine interceptions this season don't exactly reflect his poor performance.
Zach Wilson was still viewed as inferior to Boyle. This week, the New York Jets benched Wilson in favour of Boyle because they were willing to try anything different.
Will Boyle have an impact? The NFL's inaugural "Black Friday" contest pits the Jets against the Dolphins at BetMGM with a 9.5-point underdog.
It will most likely look the same as every other Jets game this year. The Jets offence won't do much, the defence will be strong, and the team will hope for one big play from the offence or perhaps a defensive score to steal a victory. Using that formula, the Jets have a 4-5-1 record against the spread.
The Dolphins are also underdogs in this game because of some misgivings. Although the Denver Broncos could join the over-.500 club this week and give Miami one quality win, they still haven't defeated a team with a winning record. Additionally, losing on Friday in an exclusive national window to a quarterback that most fans haven't heard of won't help their standing.
The Dolphins are also underdogs in this game because of some misgivings. Although the Denver Broncos could join the over-.500 club this week and give Miami one quality win, they still haven't defeated a team with a winning record. Additionally, losing on Friday in an exclusive national window to a quarterback that most fans haven't heard of won't help their standing.
It's acceptable to take an underdog team that has a strong defence and could support a quarterback switch. However, that would be a very annoying afternoon.
Here is a preview of Friday's sports betting lineup:
Plenty of college football
BetMGM is offering 13 college football games to watch this Friday. Only one game between ranked teams—a pivotal contest between Oregon and Oregon State—is among the quality matchups. With aspirations of qualifying for the College Football Playoff, No. 6 Oregon is a 13.5-point favourite. With an 8-3 record, Oregon State, ranked 16th, is ready to take on its biggest foe.
The remainder of the schedule features a few passable but unremarkable games. That includes Air Force at Boise State (-7), and Texas Tech at Texas (-14).
College basketball too
College basketball has been playing well this week, and Friday's games should be exciting. Texas A&M opens as a 3.5-point favourite against Florida Atlantic, one of the Final Four favourites from the previous season. This season, Texas A&M could win the loaded SEC, and it would be a noteworthy victory if FAU could defeat them. That would be eleven in the morning. tip-off at Eastern time.
At Battle 4 Atlantis, both the consolation and championship games ought to be exciting. In their championship game, Villanova is a 3.5-point favourite over Memphis. North Carolina is a 4.5-point favourite over Arkansas in the third-place match. If you're new to the college basketball season, there are still some excellent games to be had throughout the day.
NBA has 10 games
The NBA had Thursday off, but it's back with a strong schedule. The Boston Celtics, one of the best teams in the NBA, take on the Orlando Magic, who are arguably the biggest surprise thus far. The first game starts at 2:30 p.m. Eastern. The Magic, who are 10-5, just defeated the Denver Nuggets. Orlando is the underdog by 6.5 points.
The Sacramento Kings vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, who are off to an incredible 11-3 start, is arguably the best game of the evening. The favourite, Minnesota, is 4.5 points.
What's the best bet?
Even though there are many options, let's choose that game because the NFL is always the best. The Dolphins are my choice. Miami's defence has improved since cornerback Jalen Ramsey returned to the starting lineup, which is an underappreciated aspect of the team's campaign. On Friday, I believe the defence has a chance to score or at the very least give the offence some short fields. I'll take the Dolphins, even though I'm laying a sizable amount.