Sports Betting

Are New Jersey’s Favorite Teams to Bet On Actually Worth Betting On?

New Jersey’s betting scene revolves around a familiar cast of teams, but popularity doesn’t always mean profit. Last year, many local sports bettors learned that the hard way as several fan-favorite teams significantly underperformed Against The Spread (ATS). By breaking down how each of New Jersey’s most-bet-on teams performed vs. the spread last season, we can finally see whether locals are actually profiting from their betting habits—or just risking it all in the name of fan loyalty.

NFL (Giants, Jets, and Eagles):

When it comes to NFL betting in New Jersey, there are three teams that dominate the conversation—but their actual betting value last season couldn’t be more different.

New York Giants:

How They Performed vs.. Last Year’s Spread: The Giants had it rough last season, with only a 3-14 record, scoring 273 points and allowing 415 points. They went 5–12 ATS, covering in just 29.4% of games—one of the worst cover rates in the league.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Unfortunately… no. With a 29% cover rate, the Giants were a bottom-tier betting team, consistently failing to meet expectations. Betting on them last season was almost purely an act of loyalty.

New York Jets:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: The Jets also struggled, ending the season with a 5-12 record, scoring 338 points and allowing 404 points. This resulted in a 6-11 ATS record, covering just 35.3% of the time.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Not really. With a 35% cover rate, the Jets were mostly a losing proposition for spread bettors last season. It’s likely their name recognition and preseason hype inflated their lines, leaving fans with more disappointment than profit.

Philadelphia Eagles:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: The Eagles led the way for New Jersey’s fan-favorite football teams last season with a 14-3 record, scoring 463 points and allowing 303 points. They went 14-7 against the spread, covering 66.7%—meaning they consistently outperformed expectations.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Yes—extremely. The Eagles weren’t just winning games; they were covering spreads, which is what actually matters for bettors. With nearly a 67% cover rate, they were one of the most reliable and profitable teams for spread bettors last season.

Summary:

If you’re betting NFL teams in New Jersey, ride with the Eagles; they were the only team delivering genuine value last season. The Giants and the Jets might be fan-favorites, but if last season’s betting trends proved anything, it’s best they stay out of slips for now.

‍Read more: NFL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Football Season

NBA (Nets, Knicks, and Sixers):

The three teams that New Jersey favors on their NBA betting slip show that popularity doesn’t always equal profitability—and last season’s stats demonstrate exactly why.

Brooklyn Nets:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: The Nets finished the 2024-25 season 39-43 overall, averaging 105.1 points per game while allowing 112.2 points. They went 42-39-1 ATS, covering 51.9% of their games. They were particularly strong on the road, especially as underdogs, where they covered nearly 65% of the time.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Overall? Somewhat. With a 52% cover rate, the Nets weren’t a guaranteed bet every night, but they were occasionally profitable in specific areas (particularly as road underdogs). However, whenever they were valued as favorites, especially at home, their cover rate dipped below 42%, making them a much riskier choice in those areas.

New York Knicks:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: Last season, the Knicks ended with a 51-31 record, scoring 115.8 points per game and allowing 111.7. They went 50-49-1 ATS, with a cover rate of 50.5% and were strongest in bounce-back situations, covering 60% of games following a loss.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Not really. The Knicks weren’t consistently profitable last season, but they did provide value in specific matchups. They were more situationally advantageous rather than an everyday betting staple.

Philadelphia 76ers:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: The Sixers had one of the steepest declines in the NBA during the 2024-25 season, finishing with a disappointing 24-58 overall record and averaged 109.6 points per game while allowing 115.8 points. They ended the regular season with a 28-52-2 ATS, covering only 35% of their games—one of the lowest rates in the league.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Not this season. The Sixers went from a profitable 57% cover rate in the 2023-24 season to one of the worst teams to bet on in 2024-25. They failed to cover in almost every situation and were the kind of team smart bettors avoided entirely.

Summary:

Overall, while there was some value between the Nets and the Knicks, these New Jersey favorites showed that consistent betting in their favor was more likely done out of sentiment rather than a calculated betting move.

MLB (Yankees, Mets, and Phillies):

New Jersey bettors love riding on the Yankees, Mets, and Phillies—all three incredibly popular teams, but could not be any more different when it comes to run-line performance, especially last season.

New York Yankees

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: The Yankees ended last season with a 94-68 overall record. Their regular season Run Line (ATS equivalent) was 80-89, covering just 47.3% of the time. They produced mildly positive results as underdogs, but consistently struggled to cover when listed as favorites.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Not really. The Yankees were one of the more frustrating run-line teams in the region last season. Their value was situational at best—but overall, they were a below-average betting option without many reliable trends.

New York Mets:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: Ending with an 83-79 record, the Mets betting records were 77-85 on the Run Line, covering only 47.5% of the time. However, they covered a whopping 81.8% as home underdogs, covering 65.2% of the time as underdogs overall.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Situationally. The Mets were one of the most profitable underdogs in MLB last season, but they were one of the worst favorites to bet on with only a 47% overall coverage.

Philadelphia Phillies:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: Ending with an impressive record of 95-66, the Phillies ended the regular season with a Run Line of 88-78, covering 53% of their games—particularly showing value as underdogs with a 72.5% cover rate.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Yes. The Phillies were a profitable, high-upside betting team last season, especially when used strategically. While they did struggle as home favorites, they were valuable as underdogs and had a somewhat reliable day-to-day betting average.

Summary:

The Phillies were New Jersey’s smartest MLB bet last season—not perfect everywhere, but profitable in the right spots. The Mets were valuable as underdogs, but risky everywhere else and the Yankees showed to be the most avoidable team overall—further showcasing that popularity ≠ profitability.

NHL (Devils, Rangers, and Flyers):

New Jersey hockey bettors saw three very different stories last season—ranging from a profitable gem, to a steady and trustworthy choice, to maybe thinking twice when it comes to who should be added to the slip.

New Jersey Devils:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: With 42 wins and 33 losses, totaling 91 points, the Devils had a Puck Line Record (ATS equivalent) of 38-44 with a cover rate of 46.3%—meaning their actual performance was solid, but their puck line cover rate sat below the 50% bettors like to see.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Kind of. While the Devils look strong on paper with a positive performance outcome, they weren’t a consistent everyday betting option. They covered more reliably as underdogs and in low-total matchups.

New York Rangers:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: The Rangers ended with 54 wins and 26 losses, with a total of 110 points. They ended the regular season with a 44-38 record against the Puck Line, covering a strong 53.7% of their games.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Yes—and they’re actually one of the best spread betting teams among New Jersey’s NHL options. With a winning puck-line record and a cover rate above 53%, they delivered dependable, stable profits to NJ bettors.

Philadelphia Flyers:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: Ending with a 38–34 overall record with 86 total points scored, the Flyers showed significant improvement over their prior season. Their cover rate was an impressive 57.3% with a Puck Line record of 47-35.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Absolutely. The Flyers were one of the most consistent puck-line cover teams anywhere near New Jersey. Initially undervalued, they quietly became a profitable hidden gem.

Summary:

New Jersey NHL bettors had a mixed bag last season. The Flyers turned out to be the most profitable, consistently outperforming expectations, with the Rangers not too far behind thanks to steady puck-line reliability. The Devils, meanwhile, had the toughest season for bettors as they were far less dependable against the spread, even with a positive overall win.

MLS (Red Bulls and NYCFC):

MLS might not dominate the New Jersey betting scene, but it has quietly become a growing part of the local mix—and between the two favored teams, bettors certainly get two very different betting experiences.

New York Red Bulls:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: Ending with 11 wins, 14 losses, and 9 draws, while accumulating a total 47 points, the Red Bulls averaged 2.79 total goals per match while Both Teams to Score (BTTS) hit in 53% of their games. Their Over 2.5 Goals rate sat at an even 50%, making them a true coin-flip in high scoring markets.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Situationally. The Red Bulls weren’t a great straight-value pick, but they were playable in specific spots (like BTTS). Otherwise, they offered limited betting value.

New York City Football Club:

How They Performed vs. Last Year’s Spread: NYCFC ended last season with 14 wins, 8 losses, and 12 draws, totaling 50 points. Their matches averaged 2.62 total goals and the BTTS hit 47% of games—meaning NYCFC leaned slightly toward lower-scoring, tighter matches. However, they stood out at home with a 10-3-4 home record.
Are They Actually Good to Bet On: Also a situational yes. NYCFC offered good value at home and in games where their lower-scoring style matched well with the opponent. They weren’t a high-scoring “over” team, but they were dependable in structured matchups.

Summary:

New Jersey MLS bettors got two very different teams last season. The Red Bulls were unpredictable, offering value mostly in first-half goal and BTTS markets while NYCFC were more reliable at home, making them a stronger play on the moneyline or in double-chance markets. Overall, betting on either of these teams could have shown possible wins, but were not exactly “safe.”

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Conclusion:

New Jersey bettors have no shortage of hometown teams to cheer for, but if last season showed anything, it’s that fan-favorites and smart bets aren’t always the same thing. Some teams delivered steady value (thanks, Rangers and Phillies), while others were far more situational, unpredictable, or downright risky. Bottom Line: New Jersey has plenty of teams to love, but smart bettors know to bet with data—not just heart.

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