The Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans meet Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and the game is televised on CBS. Below, we look at the Jaguars at Texans odds and lines, and make our best NFL picks, predictions and bets.
The Jaguars selected QB Trevor Lawrence No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. To no one’s surprise, he was tabbed as the starter by new head coach Urban Meyer, and each will make their NFL debuts Sunday.
One player who will not debut for a long time is fellow first-round pick RB Travis Etienne, as he is out for the season due to surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury.
The Texans turn to QB Tyrod Taylor as their starting signal caller, and QB Deshaun Watson will be inactive after an offseason of tumult and an ongoing investigation due to off-field issues. Like Meyer, David Culley makes his NFL head coaching debut in this one.
Jaguars at Texans odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 10:05 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Jaguars -180 (bet $180 to win $100) | Texans +145 (bet $100 to win $145)
- Against the spread (ATS): Jaguars -3.5 (-105) | Texans +3.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 46.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Jaguars at Texans key injuries
Jaguars
- No notable injuries
Texans
- LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (thigh) questionable
- QB Deshaun Watson (not injury related) out
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Jaguars at Texans odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Jaguars 27, Texans 20
Money line
The Jaguars (-180) will cost you nearly two times your potential return, and that’s risky business on a team opening on the road after a 1-15 season in 2020.
I don’t care how bad the Texans are supposed to be, the Jaguars are still the Jaguars.
AVOID, and look to the spread instead.
Against the spread
JAGUARS -3.5 (-105) is the more reasonable play with much less risk. I am still concerned about the hook, as I don’t usually like to bet favorites laying 3.5 or 7.5.
However, with Taylor under center, and no real immediate threats among the skill position players for Houston, I think Lawrence, Meyer and company have a successful Week 1 trip to the Gulf Coast.
Over/Under
The lean is to OVER 46.5 (-108), ever so slightly. It’s worth a small-unit play only. I don’t think Jacksonville blows out Houston by any means, but the Jags have plenty of offensive weapons to score a fair share of points.
The back end of the Texans defense is particularly in shambles, and I think Lawrence goes over the top for at least two long scoring plays to help Over bettors.
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