It’s two rebuilding teams from the Sunshine State meeting to kick off Week 3 in the NFL as the Miami Dolphins make the trip up the Atlantic coast to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, and there will be some fans in attendance. The Jaguars are 3-point favourites on the NFL odds.

Thursday Night Football Point Spread & Betting Analysis

Both these teams are more likely to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft than they are to finish with a winning record this year, much less make the playoffs. Both do have a ton of draft picks next year via trades so they could rebuild quickly if they hit on those higher picks.

The teams met in the 2019 preseason but the last game that counted between them was in Week 16 of the 2018 campaign when the Jaguars upset the Dolphins 17-7 in Miami. QB Blake Bortles provided a spark off the bench for the Jags, who outscored the Fins 10-0 in the fourth quarter. Bortles is long gone now (out of the NFL). Ryan Tannehill threw for 146 yards with a TD and pick for Miami, but he’s long gone too (starting for the Titans).

Jacksonville and Miami have split eight regular-season matchups overall both straight up and against the spread (ATS). The total has gone under in six of those.

Miami Dolphins

Miami (0-2) was a 31-28 home loser to Buffalo on Sunday, but veteran journeyman QB Ryan Fitzpatrick probably played well enough to keep rookie No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa on the bench for one more week at least – no coach wants to throw a rookie QB to the wolves on a short week. After throwing three picks in a Week 1 loss at the Patriots, Fitzpatrick didn’t have a pick vs. Buffalo with 328 yards and two TDs. The Dolphins’ defence was atrocious, though, as the Bills had 524 yards of offence, their most since 2000. Top Miami cornerback Byron Jones left in the first quarter with a groin injury and didn’t return. Not looking good for him to play on a short week. The Dolphins are 10-4 ATS in their past 14 as underdogs.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville (1-1) has been much better than expected, upsetting the Colts in Week 1 and then nearly pulling off another shocker Sunday at Tennessee but coming up short 33-30. Gardner Minshew threw for 339 yards and three scores but was intercepted twice. Undrafted rookie free agent James Robinson won the No. 1 running back job in camp after Leonard Fournette was released and had 102 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Robinson will be a very popular fantasy football pickup this week if he is available in your league. The Jaguars outgained Tennessee 480-354. Jacksonville is 5-0 ATS in its past five September games.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Dolphins vs. Jaguars?