Raiders at Jaguars: Game preview, odds, prediction

Can the Jacksonville Jaguars make it three straight wins? The Oakland Raiders will have something to say about that this weekend.

There’s an intriguing clash in the Sunshine State this Sunday as the successful road show known as the Oakland Raiders take on the surging Jacksonville Jaguars.

Gus Bradley’s team has won its last two games. They held off the Indianapolis Colts in London and then rallying to beat the Chicago Bears in the Windy City. Meanwhile, the Raiders offense was cooled off last Sunday at home as the Silver and Black fell to the Chiefs, 26-10.

Derek Carr has been one of the early standouts of the 2016 season but was shackled last weekend. He’s thrown for 1,608 yards and a dozen scores this season while being picked off only three times. Amari Cooper leads the club in catches and receiving yards, but veteran Michael Crabtree has hauled in five of Carr’s 12 touchdown strikes.

Odds

Line: Jaguars (-1)

Over/Under: 48.5

On the other hand, it’s been a slow start for the Jacksonville offense. Quarterback Blake Bortles has more turnovers (9) than touchdown passes (8). The team has been limited to 17 points or less in three of their five games. While T.J. Yeldon leads the club with 176 yards rushing, only the Minnesota Vikings are ranked lower when it comes to rushing yards per game.

Both of these teams did a lot of work upgrading their defensive units during the offseason. While the Jaguars are starting to round into form, the Raiders are still having their issues. Oakland’s pass rush has totaled only eight sacks in six games and no team has allowed more total yards or passing yards per game.

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Oakland is also 30th in the league when it comes to stopping the run and the Jacksonville offense could get well in a hurry. But not without a fight from Carr and company.

Pick: Jacksonville 28, Oakland 26