Ravens at Jaguars: Preview, prediction, odds and pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars will play the Baltimore Ravens in London of Week 3 of the 2017 NFL season. Here is the game preview, prediction, odds and pick.

We’ve got our first London game of the NFL season. That’s right, London’s favorite NFL team returns to the United Kingdom on Sunday. The Jacksonville Jaguars will play their annual home game, this time at Wembley Stadium, versus the Baltimore Ravens at 9:30 a.m. ET on September 24.

This game will only be shown on CBS in the Baltimore and Jacksonville local media markets. It can however be streamed on Yahoo!, Go 90 and FuboTV all across the country. Andrew Catalon and James Lofton will be in the booth for this national broadcast.

Baltimore enters play at 2-0 on the year with two division wins on the season. Though the Ravens are undefeated, it’s not like the Cincinnati Bengals or the Cleveland Browns are any good. One could argue that the Jaguars will be the best team they will have played in the early part of their soft schedule. Like the Ravens, the Jaguars have a real defense.

Jacksonville is 1-1 on the year. Though Sacksonville pulverized the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Week 1, the Jaguars couldn’t hang in the second half on the road in Nashville, falling to the division rival Tennessee Titans. Jacksonville is used to playing in these London games. Will the Jaguars be able to take advantage.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Jacksonville +3.5
Moneylines: Baltimore -190, Jacksonville +165
Over/Under: 40

According to SportsBook Review, the Jaguars will be getting 3.5 points versus the Ravens. The associated moneylines for this game are Baltimore -190 and Jacksonville +165. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 40 points.

This will be a closer ball game than NFL fans expect. The perception is that the Ravens are a significantly superior team over the Jaguars. That just may not be the case. Baltimore’s two wins don’t do much to convince us this is a top-10 team in the NFL. The Ravens haven’t faced a defense like this yet.

That could be problematic for the listless Ravens offense. For that reason, we have to go with the under in this game. It’s an early start time with two defensive-minded teams playing overseas. This one could be a slog to watch. Just saying.

Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best Defenders of All-Time

That being said, it will be a close one. Look for Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to make the game-winning field goal to sink Jacksonville by a point. The Jaguars will not trail in this game for 59 minutes and 59 seconds, but still find a way to lose. They do cover though, but was that worth the trip to London?

Prediction: Baltimore 17, Jacksonville 16