Raiders vs Jaguars matchup preview and current betting lines
It seems like you never know what version of the Las Vegas Raiders you’ll get. Josh McDaniels has left a lot to be desired in his first year in charge of the team, as they’ve struggled to find consistency on both sides of the gridiron.
They’re coming off an embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Saints, as they needed to wait until the final quarter to run a play in their rival’s territory. Also, failing to score a single point is just unacceptable at every level, let alone the National Football League.
On the other hand, the Jacksonville Jaguars have shown some promise and signs of improvement. And trading for Calvin Ridley all but proves that they have strong faith in Doug Pederson and what he can accomplish given enough time.
However, it’s also been obvious that they don’t have what it takes to compete right now. Trevor Lawrence has struggled to step up when the game is on the line, and they’re still a piece or two away from being a legit contender.
Players to watch:
Josh Jacobs: Josh Jacobs will be a free agent next season, and he’s sure made the most of this campaign to prove the Raiders wrong for that. He’s been explosive as a three-down kind of back and should be in for a big performance.
Travis Etienne Jr: Travis Etienne Jr. has been so efficient that he even allowed the Jaguars to part ways with James Robinson. He looks like the best RB in his class and his explosiveness makes him a major threat in the open field.
Week 9 Predictions: NFL Bet of the week on Raiders vs Jaguars
Raider -1.5
The opening Raiders vs Jaguars spread have the Las Vegas Raiders favored by 1.5 points. Rookie bettors could be tempted to rush and bet on the Jacksonville Jaguars after last week’s blowout, but this might as well be a mistake.
Josh McDaniels could be coaching for his job on Sunday. That embarrassing loss has officially put him on the hot seat, and we expect the players to be overly motivated after being humiliated by a rival that wasn’t even supposed to be all that good.
The Jaguars have been able to march up and down the field, but offensive miscues and key mistakes have cost them games more often than not, especially in close matchups. Their defense lacks the personnel to stop Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs.
So, it’s just like the perfect storm for the Raiders to bounce back in a big way and put all narratives and overreactions at ease. The Jaguars will compete and make it a hard-fought game, but they’ll lose by at least three points anyway.
Over 48
The opening Raiders vs Jaguars odds have this game sitting at 48 points, which seems quite fine. The Las Vegas Raiders are built to have an explosive offense, and they now have arguably the best wideout in the game alongside Derek Carr.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are also built thinking of putting up plenty of points on the scoreboard. And even despite his struggles, Lawerence has shown glimpses of greatness, and you know he’s more than capable of throwing the football downfield.
Both teams have dynamic playmakers that could turn a broken play into a big gain, not to mention the fact that they both have weak secondary defenses. So, this has the makings of a high-scoring matchup from start to finish.
Truth be told, this is the kind of matchup that both teams needed, as it’ll help them get their offenses back into sync. We expect multiple lead changes and this to be an exciting game between two teams desperately craving a win.
FAQs about Raiders vs Jaguars
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Derek Carr for the Raiders and Trevor Lawrence for the Jaguars.