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Jaguars vs. Texans Gambling Preview/Prediction

For game bettors, the Texans are three-point home favorites in a battle between two disappointing teams. Both Houston & Jacksonville have missed expectations in 2008…

NFL: MONDAY MATCHUP OFFERS PROP-PORTUNITY

In a week filled with prop bets, Sportsbook.com members have another opportunity to double winning wagers on Monday night.

Bet on the First Scoring Play prop offered for the primetime matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans and you could have your winning payout doubled. Check our Primetime Props page for complete details.

For game bettors, the Texans are three-point home favorites in a battle between two disappointing teams. Both Houston & Jacksonville have missed expectations and are relegated to the spoiler role for the remainder of the season

The Jaguars’ woes have been hard to put a finger on after entering the season as one of the Super Bowl favorites.

Houston’s problems have been namely on the defensive side of the ball, in almost every stat and facet but on offense they have been solid and average more than six yards per play.

Bettors should note, however, that the Jaguars are 8-1 ATS against offenses averaging more than 5.65 yards per play in the second half of seasons.

Houston has held a firm edge on Jacksonville in the head-to-head series, going 7-6 straight up and 10-3 ATS all-time, including 4-2 straight up and 5-1 ATS at home.

In the first Monday night game ever at Reliant Stadium, Houston will go for its third straight win against Jacksonville on its home turf and while both of these teams are headed home in January, recent get-togethers between these two have been interesting.

Case in point: The Jaguars won the earlier meeting in Week 3 on a 37-yard field goal by Josh Scobee in overtime to prevail, 30-27 after Houston’s Kris Brown tied the game on a 47-yarder with one second left.

The emergence of Texans’ rookie running back Steve Slaton has been one of many rookie tailbacks who have stepped up in a big way in 2008 and his 774 yards and six touchdowns are proof of how important he has been. Slaton has also caught 32 passes and hasn’t fumbled.

Like Slaton, wideout Andre Johnson has also emerged after a slow September.
Since the beginning of October, Johnson has caught 76 passes for 892 yards and three touchdowns.

Besides San Diego, there hasn’t been a bigger disappointment than Jacksonville as they sit at 4-7. Losses to Cleveland, Cincinnati and Tennessee really did the team in and rumblings about head coach Jack Del Rio’s job security have surfaced.

Quarterback David Garrard has failed to continue the success he had in 2007 and has only nine touchdown passes through 12 games. The lack of production from Garrard has not been contagious to Maurice Jones-Drew, who leads the team with 11 touchdowns.

With Jones-Drew reaping all the fruit, the cupboard has been bare for fellow running back Fred Taylor, who has yet to score and is averaging a career-low 3.6 yards per carry.

PREDICTION: Houston 20, Jacksonville 17

By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"