The New York Jets will be in town this Thursday night for their annual preseason matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. This fourth and final preseason game for both teams is set to get underway at 6:35 p.m. (EST) at Lincoln Financial Stadium and it will be broadcast locally in each team’s home market.

This betting preview is part of an ongoing series where we take an in-depth look at each and every Eagles game this year and offer a free NFL pick using Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System.

Betting Lines by 5Dimes        

Pointspread: Philadelphia -5.5
Total Line: 36.5

Game Overview: New York

The preseason has not gone as expected for Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan with three-straight losses by a combined score of 60-21, but if he is concerned he is certainly not showing it. The normally brash Ryan insists that his offense is saving its bag of tricks for the regular season with the addition of quarterback Tim Tebow as an option in the wildcat formation. The reality is that both starting quarterback Mark Sanchez and Tebow have looked awful behind center and New York has yet to set foot in the end zone in three games. They are hoping that the recent addition of tackle Jason Smith in a trade with St. Louis will help shore-up the left side of the line, but the problems with the Jets offense run much deeper than this. Not only are they having problems throwing the ball, the running game as been ineffective as well.

New York is not going to solve any of their problems on Thursday night as preparations have already begun for the season opener against Buffalo on Sept.9. This game is all about filling the last few roster spots and making sure that anyone who is expected to see playing time against the Bills gets through Thursday night with their health intact. The preseason is over in Ryan’s mind, but Jets’ fans are probably still wondering when it actually began.

Game Overview: Philadelphia

Philadelphia comes into this final preseason game a perfect 3-0 both straight-up and against the spread with victories over Pittsburgh, New England, and Cleveland. The new-and-improved defense is finally starting to gel under the direction of second-year defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, who was nearly run out of town after last season’s 8-8 debacle. The front seven, from the starters to the reserves, have been able to apply consistent pressure on the quarterback, and the defense as a whole is ranked first in the NFL against the pass this preseason. More importantly, the guys up front have been able to stuff the run; giving up an average of just 85.3 yards in the three previous games.

All the remaining questions with the Eagles are on offense as well. That’s not because of their inability to move the ball and put points on the board, but it’s because just about all the production has been engineered by third-round draft pick Nick Foles. He has lined up behind center for the majority of the snaps in the first three games due to minor injuries to Michael Vick and backup Mike Kaftka’s broken left hand. Foles has thrown for 507 yards and six touchdowns while showing the poise of a four- or five-year vet. He should see substantial playing time against the Jets in order to confirm his new role as Vick’s immediate backup.

Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Game Prediction

Trying to predict the winner of a Week 4 NFL preseason game is like trying to bet a horse race without a program. You have to go with your gut based on what you have already seen on the field. The Eagles have been able to come together as a team that is hungry for wins whether they count in the standings or not. From what I have seen from New York is that they remain content with making things more about individuals then actually trying to play as a team. Nonetheless, the unpredictability of these games offers a great opportunity to watch some up-and-coming players while keeping your money in your wallet. Save it up for the real show that begins next week when we will be back in business with Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System. If you still feel compelled to take a side, stick with the Eagles all the way in this one.

Pick: Pass for the week, we will be back next week with a pick for Week 1.

Season Results: 2-1, +1 Unit (+$90)

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