New York Jets vs Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Preview
Thursday night football features two AFC playoff hopefuls in the New York Jets and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Will Trevor Lawrence continue his impressive sophomore season and lead his team to a win in a must-win game? Sportsmemo NFL handicapper Eric Pauly shares his thoughts and gives three-player prop angles to take a look at for the game tonight.
New York Jets vs Jacksonville Jaguars Week 16 Betting Odds
Thursday, December 22 | Week 16 NFL Betting Notes |
---|---|
Point Spread: | New York Jets -1 vs Jacksonville Jaguars |
Total: | o/u 38 Points |
Location: | MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ |
Game Time: | 8:15pm ET / 5:15pm PT (Odds Above Courtesy of DraftKings) |
TV: | Prime Video |
New York Jets vs Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Preview
The New York Jets and the Jacksonville Jaguars are both in contention for a playoff spot in the AFC. The Jets have a one-game lead over the Jaguars, but that could flip after Thursday night’s game.
The Jaguars have won their last two games, while the Jets are on a three-game losing streak. Zach Wilson is probably going to suit up at QB for the Jets, which is not as good for this offense. This should be a great game, and it certainly is a meaningful one.
Jaguars Playing Under The Radar
After looking like the Jaguars of old for a good portion of the season, Jacksonville is playing well, and they find themselves in the AFC playoff race. The Jaguars are two games out of a Wild Card spot, but they are just 1.5 games out of the AFC South. Needless to say, it is a must-win game for the Jaguars on Thursday.
The Jaguars are still not great, but they are certainly better than they used to be. Trevor Lawrence has been improving week in and week out, and this team looks good now and down the line. This offense, which struggled to start the season, is now the backbone of this team.
They are 12th in points and 6th in yards. On a per-drive basis, the Jaguars are 18th in time, 14th in plays, 7th in yards, and 10th in points. They are solid on third down and in the red zone.
They do not turn the ball over a lot, Lawrence is 11th in the NFL in net yards per attempt, and Jaguars running backs are 6th in yards per carry. This offensive line is still slightly suspect and folds under pressure, but the growth of this offense has been a joy to watch.
The good news is the Jaguars’ offense has progressed nicely through the season. The bad news is their defense has regressed. The Jaguars are good against the run, but they are abysmal against the pass. On a per-drive basis, the Jaguars are 25th in time, 30th in plays, 30th in yards, and 28th in points.
To make matters worse, this team is 29th in third-down defense and 28th in red zone defense. They are good at getting pressure, but their sack numbers are low. This unit came out hot this season, but they have been a hot mess since.
Glimmer Of Hope In Jets Defense
The Jets have had a roller-coaster season. They hit their seasonal win total before their bye week, but now they have lost three straight and are on the outside looking in at the playoffs.
New York benched QB Zach Wilson, but now he is suiting up again due to an injury to Mike White. Wilson is horrible, but the rest of the Jets are good, so as long as he doesn’t screw up the game, New York has a chance.
Zach Wilson has had a terrible sophomore season, but he also did poorly against good defenses. He played decently last week against a bad pass defense, and now he faces arguably a worse one, which bodes well for his outlook.
Still, last week Wilson threw a horrible interception and was just 18-35 passing. On a per-drive basis, this Jets’ offense is 30th in time, 24th in plays, 25th in yards, and 23rd in points.
To make matters worse, they are 26th on third down and 27th in the red zone. With Wilson at the helm, you do not know what you are going to get. He still makes some great throws, but he is also an error waiting to happen.
The Jets’ defense has been the bright spot of this team, and for good reason. This unit is legit, and they have played well all year long. On a per-drive basis, the Jets are 4th in time, 7th in plays, 1st in yards, and 4th in points.
This defense is middle of the pack on third down, but they are 8th in the red zone. New York is 5th in yards per carry allowed and 4th in opposing QB’s net yards per attempt. If this unit can pressure and hurry Lawrence, it could be a good day to be a Jets fan.
New York Jets vs Jacksonville Jaguars Prediction
This is a classic strength vs. strength game. The Jaguars’ offense is rolling, but so is the Jets’ defense. The real question is if Zach Wilson can beat up on a bad defense. If Mike While was playing, I have this line at New York -3. With Wilson, I have it at Jets +1.
Some may not see this big fo a drop-off, considering the Jets win with defense, but I am out on Zach Wilson long-term. While I do like the Jets here, I cannot put my hard-earned money on Zach Wilson – I just will not do it.
Where I see value is in the total. 38.5 points is too low for a short week. I expect the Jaguars and the Jets to have multiple big plays, and I think the over is the way to look here.
Prediction: Over 38 Points Scored -110
Sportsmemo Christmas Special
From Sportsmemo we want to wish everyone a safe and Happy Holidays! To show our appreciation we have a Holiday Special running where you get a one-time 25% off everything you can fit in your cart. Listen to more info below and take advantage of this deal before this New York Jets vs Jacksonville Jaguars game kicks off Thursday Night Football.
NFL Odds Board
WagerTalk’s Live Odds Screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the NFL point spreads, totals and betting percentages for all of the Week 16 games, including this New York Jets vs Jacksonville Jaguars showdown, from your desktop or phone.
**************************************************
Meet the Author
Eric Pauly, @slimeaction on Twitter, graduated from Binghamton University with a degree in Finance. Eric is a die-hard Washington Commanders and New York Knicks fan and enjoys watching and writing about the NFL, NBA and MLB. His favorite gambling movements include hitting a +1000 future on Washington to win the NFC East in 2020 and predicting Jonathan Taylor’s breakout season with a +900 ticket for him to win the 2021 NFL rushing title. Aside from the sports betting industry, and making a brilliant Cleveland Browns vs Los Angeles Chargers betting pick, Eric also enjoys good eats, dynasty fantasy football leagues, daily fantasy sports and playing the guitar.
Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?
- Latest Betting Odds and Public Action: Vegas lines updated in real time, including who the public is betting on.
- Last Minute Handicapping Advice: Check out our extensive library of handicapping tips and advice from professional Vegas handicappers (we also recommend taking the time to look over our sports betting tips video library)
- Want an expert opinion? Check out the latest Free Sports Picks and Best Free NFL Bets from our team of expert sports handicappers.
Make sure to bookmark all the above!