Jaguars vs. Texans Point Spread: NFL Week 1 Odds, Prediction
Trevor Lawrence has his hands full as the new centrepiece of a Jacksonville team that finished with a 1-15 record last season. The Jaguars open the 2021 campaign on the road in Houston, where they’ll face a Deshaun Watson-less Texans squad on Sunday.
The Jags are a 3-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 44.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Houston won both meetings between these teams last season. The Texans won 30-14 at home in Week 5 and 27-25 in Jacksonville in Week 9. Watson threw for a combined 640 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. The total went Under in the first game and Over in the second.
After winning in Week 1 last season, Jacksonville was brutalized the rest of the year, finishing the season on a 15-game losing streak. They’ve lost nine straight road games and six straight games against Houston. The Jaguars only managed to cover in two of those six losses against Houston. The total has gone Under in four of their last six games as the favourite.
Houston wasn’t much better last year, ending the season on a five-game losing streak. They’re drawing a favourable opponent to start the year and have won six of their last seven home games against the Jaguars. The Texans are 1-5 against the spread in their last six September games.
Jacksonville Jaguars
When the Jags take the field on Sunday, Lawrence won’t be the only one making his NFL debut. Head coach Urban Meyer is also making the jump to the pro’s after a college career that saw him win three national championships. Jacksonville is no doubt hoping Lawrence’s transition to the NFL will be easier with Meyer at the helm. Up against last year’s third-worst defence, Lawrence will have a talented group of receivers to target, in D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault Jr.
Undrafted second-year running back James Robinson should be able to tear apart Houston’s defence. Robinson rushed for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns last season, breaking the record for most scrimmage yards of any free agent rookie in NFL history.
Defensively, Jacksonville’s front seven was terrible last season. It doesn’t look like there’s been much improvement, although Dawuane Smoot and Jihad Ward looked good in the preseason. They’ll be up against a mobile quarterback, so shutting down Tyrod Taylor is key.
As far as injury news, keep an eye on the cornerbacks leading up to Sunday. Rookie Tyson Campbell and fourth-year vet Tre Herndon have both been dealing with injuries. Campbell and Herndon are slotted in as the top cornerbacks on the roster. Herndon has already been ruled out against the Texans, but it’s like Campbell will be ready to go in time.
Houston Texans
It will be Taylor starting over Watson in Week 1. With the legal drama surrounding Watson and his desire for a trade, it’s likely we’ve seen him in a Texans uniform for the last time. Taylor was added to the roster in the offseason after losing his starting job with the Chargers to rookie Justin Herbert last year. He’s a serviceable enough quarterback for a Texans team that is expected to finish near the bottom of the standings this season. Taylor only started one game last year, but for his career he’s completed 61.4 per cent of his passes for 9,770 yards with 54 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
Houston made a late addition to the roster, signing veteran wide receiver Danny Amendola on Tuesday. He’ll join a receiving corps that includes Brandin Cooks, Anthony Miller and Mark Ingram II.
The biggest offseason loss was defensive end J.J. Watt. The 32-year-old is definitely past his prime, but he can still contribute and Houston’s defence won’t be any better without him.
Look out for news on right tackle Charlie Heck. The expected starter tested positive for COVID and his status is up in the air. Heck reportedly has no major symptoms and can play on Sunday if he turns in two negative tests.
JAC
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