Texans vs Jaguars Betting Odds: Jacksonville Big Favorites to Rebound

The Houston Texans are looking for their first win of the season, while the Jaguars are looking to erase the sour taste in their mouths after last week’s 17-9 loss to Kansas City. The Texans were expected to be bad and are living up to those expectations. The Jaguars were expected to be good, and the jury is still out after their 1-1 start. The Texans vs Jaguars betting odds have Jacksonville favored by 9.5 points and a total of 44 when the teams meet on Sunday.

Stroud Playing Well, Most of Team Isn’t

Rookie quarterback CJ Stroud has been one of the few bright spots in the early going for the Texans. He’s completing 63.7% of his passes and has thrown for 626 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He’s fourth in passing yards among the NFL stats leaders. But he hasn’t gotten much help. The Texans have rushed for 124 yards in two games, averaging 2.5 yards per carry.

Houston is averaging 14.5 points per game and allowing 28, which isn’t a recipe for success in the NFL. The Texans have to get something going on the ground. Stroud may look good throwing the ball, but very few quarterbacks can win games without some sort of rushing attack. It will be a long season if the Texans are forced to throw nearly every down.

Houston’s defense isn’t getting the job done so far, at least in terms of points allowed. The Texans are allowing just 309 yards per game. But they’re not getting the stops they need. Good defensive teams tighten up when it’s needed. The Texans aren’t there yet, which is why they’re 0-2 straight-up and against the spread.

Jaguars Need to Tighten Up Pass Defense

Jacksonville is 1-1 straight-up and against the NFL spreads, having failed to cover the number in the loss to Kansas City. The Jaguars played well in the opening week victory over Indianapolis to start the season. But people were probably expecting a little more offensively out of the Jags. Travis Etienne Jr. left last week’s game with cramps, while Zay Jones is listed as questionable on the NFL injuries with a knee issue. The Jags aren’t deep enough to overcome many injuries.

The Jaguars are allowing 19 points per game. But that won’t last if the team allows 256.5 passing yards per game. Jacksonville should be better than that. There’s no issue with the run defense, which is holding teams to 83 yards and 3.5 yards per carry.

What to Expect

The Texans don’t run the ball very well, and now they’re going up against a team that can stop the rush. That could mean another game where Stroud is forced to throw more often than Houston would like. But until the Jaguars show they can stop the pass, who not take your chances through the air? The Texans should try to run enough to keep the Jacksonville defense off-balance and prevent them from teeing off on Stroud.

Trevor Lawrence has thrown for just two touchdowns on the season but should be able to put up some decent stats against the Texans. Houston isn’t that good against the run, so the Jags may be able to get their ground game heading in the right direction to an extent. Lawrence is more effective when the Jaguars are moving the ball on the ground and through the air. So they should at least try to establish the run a little bit and go from there.

Who to Bet On?

The Texans vs Jaguars betting odds of Jacksonville -9 is a tough number to lay. Jacksonville has to avoid any sort of letdown from last week’s game with Kansas City. The Texans did beat the Jaguars on the road last season, so that should be enough to get Jacksonville’s attention for this one. But this is the largest favorite Jacksonville has been since 2018.

Houston’s rushing woes against a solid defensive team versus the run could equal plenty of Texans’ passes. That might not be a good thing for the Texans, but it could be a good thing for the over. With the Texans vs Jaguars betting odds on the total set at 44, the over probably offers the best value of the wagers in this game.

For NFL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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