2013 Record: 8-8

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 7.0

2014 Season Win Total Pick: 'Under'

The 2013 Jets fluked their way to a .500 mark and bought boisterous coach Rex Ryan another year at the helm. They were active in free agency and are attempting to save Ryan's hide once again with a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

Defensively Ryan has built a rock solid crew. The D has finished in the Top 11 in yards allowed in each of his five years with the team. But they have also seen their ranking decline in each of those seasons and haven't finished higher than No. 19 in scoring defense in any of the last three years. I expect the Jets to be improved on that side of the ball as several young players are entering their prime. But it is a symbiotic relationship between the offense and the defense and more scoring from GenoSmith and Co. can only help.

The Jets are hoping that Smith can make strides in his second season under center and added overrated weapons Eric Decker and Chris Johnson to the mix in an effort to boost production.

The Jets have the opportunity to get off to a fast start with three of their first four games at home against teams that missed the playoffs. They close the season with four of six games on the road but, again, just one of those games - a home test versus New England - comes against a 2013 postseason participant. That's the good news. The bad news is that the Jets have shown a tendency to play down to their level of competition under Ryan and none of those wins against lesser teams are a given.

I am going to defer to my systems on this one. The Jets were nearly three wins better than their statistics suggested last year. They had exorbitant luck in close games - winning four games in the final seconds - and I think that a tricky first half schedule could really put some pressure on this locker room. Once the vice of the New York media starts to close things could get ugly.

It's a make-or-break year for Ryan and the Jets. There are a lot of things pointing to another sleeper run out of this franchise. But until I see it I won't bite. Play 'under', but play it with caution.

Jets Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 7, Oakland, 1 p.m.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.

Week 3: Monday, Sept. 22, Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28, Detroit, 1 p.m.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 12, Denver, 1 p.m.

Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 16, at New England, 8:25 p.m.

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 9, Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Week 11: BYE

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 23, at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Week 13: Monday, Dec. 1, Miami, 8:30 p.m.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, at Tennessee, 4:05 p.m.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 21, New England, 1 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, at Miami, 1 p.m.

Robert will be releasing his 2014 NFL Futures Picks on Thursday, Aug. 14. Last year's top two picks (8-Unit Play on Arizona 'over' 5.5 wins and 6-Unit Play on Kansas City over 7.0 wins) both won easily and he has hit his top NFL Futures Play (rated 7.0 or higher) in four straight seasons. For more information visit his Insider's Page HERE.

Robert Ferringo is one of the best NFL handicappers in the world and is coming off one of the best football betting seasons in the 43-year history of Doc's Sports. Robert banked nearly $8,000 in profit for his football clients and won a stunning 62.1 percent of his NFL plays (95-58). Robert has won over 70 percent of his last 58 NFL side plays (41-17) and has posted six of seven winning NFL seasons. He has banked $17,400 in football profit, college and pro, over the last 20 months and he is excited about building on his staggering resume. Take advantage of our free, no-strings-attached $60 credit to use toward a purchase of Robert's football selections. You cannot afford to miss out on this great offer - click here.

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