Bills vs Jets Picks & Predictions for MNF: Allen Gets Number Called

With Todd Downing taking over playcalling duties and looking to establish the run, our Bills vs. Jets predictions expect backup running back Braelon Allen to get plenty of chances.

Jason Logan: Senior Betting Analyst at Covers
Jason Logan • Senior Betting Analyst
Oct 13, 2024 • 05:00 ET • 4 min read

NFL

Match starts: 30 hrs
NYJ
36 %
BUF
64 %
Read Analysis
Braelon Allen New York Jets NFL
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

A changing of the guard in East Rutherford could have the New York Jets looking a little different when they host the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.

New York fired head coach Robert Saleh ahead of this Week 6 matchup while also taking the play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett, turning the offense over to assistant Todd Downing.

Downing’s approach could be a boon for the running game, with my Bills vs. Jets predictions focusing specifically on rookie running back Braelon Allen.

I size up the spread, Over/Under total, and NFL player prop odds for Monday Night Football and give my best NFL picks for the Bills at Jets on October 13.

Bills vs Jets MNF prediction

My best bet
Braelon Allen Over 8.5 rushing attempts (+116 at FanDuel)

My analysis
Braelon Allen may sit behind fellow running back Breece Hall on the depth chart, but the first-year RB out of Wisconsin has been the more effective runner of the two in 2024.  Allen is picking up 4.5 yards per carry (vs. Hall’s 3.0 ypc) and will see more action with Downing holding the play sheet on Monday night. 

The promoted passing game coordinator and QB coach is actually better known for his relentless rushing attack (going back to his time as OC in Tennessee), which interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich celebrated this week. New York currently sits 27th in EPA per handoff with a success rate per run of just 37.9% (20th).

“First of all, this team does have a strong run game,” Downing told the media. “We just haven’t seen it come to fruition consistently enough... but I believe our guys are ready to answer the bell and make the quarter-turn adjustments we need to make to get this thing on track.”

The opportunity to do damage on the ground is there Monday night. This Buffalo Bills defense is soft in the middle, missing key components in the run stop. The Bills, who sit 22nd in EPA allowed per handoff and give up an NFL-high 5.2 yards per carry, were bullied by the Ravens’ dedication to the run two weeks ago, allowing 271 yards on the ground.

Allen had a quiet day in the loss to the Vikings in London last weekend, mainly due to the New York Jets falling behind quickly and having to go pass-heavy in an effort to catch up. He carried the ball just five times for 13 yards. 

With Hackett calling plays, New York ran the ball at the third-lowest rate in the league through five weeks (35.76%). Downing will bring more balance to the play calling, which gives Allen a higher ceiling than some projections forecast.

The rookie’s player models range from six rushing attempts to 10 carries in Week 6, with my number just shy of nine attempts from Allen on Monday. This prop total did open as low as 7.5 (Over -128), with Over action bumping it up. I still believe there's value, given the change in Gang Green’s offensive philosophy and the weakness of the Bills defense.

Bills vs Jets MNF same-game parlay

Brealon Allen 25+ rushing yards

Breece Hall anytime touchdown

Jets +2.5

Allen will see an increased workload with Downing at the wheel of the offense and the Bills getting beat up on the ground. 

Hall will also see a spike in touches and is always a threat to score on the ground or through the air.

This Jets defense is statistically the best stop unit Buffalo has faced, with the Bills beating up on weaker teams to start the season.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

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Bills vs Jets odds

Bills vs Jets live odds

Bills vs Jets opening odds

  • Spread: Buffalo -2.5 | New York +2.5
  • Moneyline: Buffalo -130 | New York +110
  • Over/Under: Over 42.5 | Under 42.5

Odds courtesy of FanDuel.

Bills vs Jets spread and Over/Under analysis

  • New York opened between +2.5 and +3 for this Monday night matchup following its loss in London last Sunday. When the team fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday, the betting market actually moved toward Gang Green, with the field goal spreads drying up and vig on Buffalo -2.5 slimming.

  • The Over/Under total opened at 42.5 points and has been bet down to 40.5 O/U as of Sunday.

  • Covers Consensus shows 64% of spread picks on Buffalo while 57% of total picks are on the Over.

  • This trip to MetLife Stadium is Buffalo’s third straight road game after losses at Baltimore and Houston the past two weeks.

Bills vs Jets betting trend to know

The Bills are 1-6 Over/Under in divisional road games since 2022, including playing Under at Miami in Week 2. Find more NFL betting trends for Bills vs. Jets.

Bills vs Jets game info

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Date: Monday, 10-14, 2024
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

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Jason Logan Senior Industry Analyst Covers.com
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In his 20 years with Covers, lead NFL betting analyst “JLo” has seen it all and bet it all. Through the wild west of early Internet gambling to lobbying for legalized sports betting to our brave new wagering world, Jason has been a consistent source of actionable info and entertainment for squares and sharps alike.

Since joining the Covers team back in 2005, he’s honed his handicapping skills to provide audiences with the most thorough insights, blending traditional capping methods with advanced modelling and predictive analysis. Jason has studied the ins and outs of the sports betting business, learning from some of the most successful gamblers in the industry and the biggest sportsbook operators on the planet.

He is under center for Covers during NFL season as our top NFL expert, taking the points in his infamous “NFL Underdogs” column and representing the Covers Community at the Super Bowl. While he lives for football season, Jason’s first love is basketball and that shows in his in-depth NBA, NCAA, and WNBA betting breakdowns.

On top of being a mainstay in media from coast to coast – WPIX, PHL17, Fox 5 San Diego, WGNO, TSN, SportsNet, ESPN Radio – he’s had his analysis featured in USA Today, MSNBC, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CBS, Bloomberg, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and other major publications. You can also find JLo stuffing all the top picks and predictions he can into 10 minutes as the host of Covers’ flagship podcast, The Sharp 600.

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