Somehow, the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8) traveling to face the Houston Texans (2-12-1) has become a big game for the AFC playoffs. Who would have thought? The Jaguars have clawed their way to the top of the AFC South Division, but a win this week won’t be nearly as important compared to winning in Week 18. The Texans have held an advantage over the Jaguars, having not lost to them since 2018, including a 13-6 win back in Week 5.
Last week, on Thursday night, giving the Jaguars a little extra rest, they beat the New York Jets 19-3 to win three straight. The Texans beat the Tennessee Titans 19-14 for just their second win on the season and helped the Jaguars take over the division.
Let’s check the latest NFL odds, stats, injury reports, and NFL lines for Jaguars vs Texans. We’ve plenty of Vegas NFL odds and NFL week 17 picks for you to consider.
Jaguars vs Texans Betting Lines
Jaguars Have Lawrence Going
Alright, Trevor Lawrence has arrived and is proving he was well worth the first overall pick in 2021. Despite last week being his first game without throwing a touchdown since Week 5 – the loss to the Texans – he still did enough to beat the Jets.
It was his second straight game with a fumble lost, which has been an issue, but he did not throw an interception for the sixth game out of the last seven. He threw for 229 yards, completing 20 of his 31 attempts, and rushed for 51 and a touchdown. His play has been a massive part of keeping the Jaguars in games, leading to wins by making most of the right decisions.
Against the Jets, the defense gave some help. Facing an opponent on their last leg, with a struggling offense, in the elements, helped the Jaguars’ defense, but they still held a team to three points. The points the defense did allow were due to good field position off of a turnover.
Texans Don’t Give Up
The Texans have not been great, represented by their two wins, but they have not quit on the season, despite it already being lost. They have been scrappy the prior two weeks before facing the Titans, almost pulling off massive upsets against the Kansas City Chiefs, losing in overtime, and being beaten by the Dallas Cowboys on a touchdown in the final minute.
Last week was different. The Texans scored 10 points in the final quarter to pull off the win against the Titans. With Dameon Pierce on the IR, the run game struggled with replacement Royce Freeman at the helm, who averaged just two yards on his 16 carries. Quarterback Davis Mills didn’t have a standout game either, throwing for 178 yards on 28 attempts, a touchdown, and an interception.
It was the defense for the Texans that stepped up, forcing three turnovers, two interceptions, and a fumble. That is what changed the game. The defense has been the standout of the two sides of the ball, ranked 26th in points per game compared to the offense at 30.
Jaguars vs Texans Game Injuries
Jaguars vs Texans Head-to-Head
The Texans beat the Jaguars back in Week 5 for their only other win. It also extended a nine-game winning streak over the Jaguars for the Texans.
Jaguars vs Texans Game Information
- Game: Jaguars vs Texans
- Date/Time: Sunday, January 1, 1:00 p.m. EST
- Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
- How to watch Jaguars vs Texans? CBS
Jaguars vs Texans Live stream: NFL Game Pass
Jaguars vs Texans Game Weather Conditions
It should be a nice warm day in Texas come kick off. Along with the Texans having a retractable roof, the weather should play no part in this game.
Jaguars vs Texans Picks & Prediction
Predicted score: Jacksonville 24, Texans 17
- Worth Betting on the Moneyline?
If you think the Jaguars won’t be able to cover the 4½-point spread, it is worth taking them on the money line. Despite the Texans winning last week, they have still been one of the worst teams in the NFL, which should lead to a Jaguars win.
- Worth Betting ATS?
It’s hard to tell because the Texans have been a sneaky cover, going 4-6 over the last 10. However, the Jaguars are hitting their stride right now and should be able to win and cover the spread.
- Worth Betting on the Totals?
The points total does get a little iffy. The Jaguars’ offense struggled last week to put up big numbers, but that could have been because of the weather. Also, it’s hard to bet on the Texans’ offense in anything. If they do go over the points total, the Jaguars will have to account for a large part of the points.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
