Jaguars at Texans: Preview, prediction, odds and pick
By John Buhler
The Houston Texans will host their AFC South rival Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in Week 1. Here is the game preview, the odds and a score prediction.
Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season is here. So get ready for some football action, America! One of the games that will be on the early CBS time slot will be a battle between AFC South rivals in the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Kickoff at NRG Stadium in Houston will be at 1:00 p.m. ET on September 10. Andrew Catalon and James Lofton will be in the booth for the CBS telecast. Both of these teams are looking to start their year off on the right foot.
Houston is coming off its second straight AFC South crown. The Texans have won with defense and horrendous quarterback play the last two years. However, the AFC South has been the worst division in football for some time. Though the Texans traded up to draft Deshaun Watson out of Clemson, it will be Tom Savage starting at quarterback for Houston.
As for the Jaguars, this could be another tough year for the team. That’s because starting quarterback Blake Bortles looks to be a lame duck heading into the season. He was already benched during the preseason during the exhibition contest at home versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bortles would get his job back, as third-stringer Brandon Allen was cut from the team and Chad Henne is just a backup at this stage of his career.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Houston -5.5
Moneylines: Houston -235, Jacksonville +220
Over/Under: 39.5
According to SportsBook Review, the Texans will be laying 5.5 points at home to the visiting Jaguars. The associated moneylines for this game are Houston -235 and Jacksonville +220. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 39.5 points.
This will not be one of the prettiest games on the slate in Week 1. In fact, it might be one of the least visually appealing. If you are a fan of great defense, this one could be up your alley, as this game is probably going under 39.5 points.
Neither team is strong at quarterback. It could be a lot of three and outs, as well as some awful interceptions. We will likely come out of this game in agreement about two things with these two things: they will have good defenses this year and the quarterbacking play is awful.
With Houston being affected by Hurricane Harvey only recently, we could see the Texans play with a ton of passion in front of the home crowd. Jacksonville will have a chance to tie it up late, but Texans defensive end J.J. Watt will come up with a big fourth-down sack on Bottles to set up Houston victory formation.
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This game will not have a lot of points, but it will be a close one down to the wire. Take the Texans to win and cover, but this one will likely go under at NRG Stadium.
Prediction: Texans 20, Jaguars 13