This Sunday afternoon, the Houston Texans (7-5, 5-6-1 ATS, 4-7-1 O/U) will face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9, 6-5 ATS, 7-4 O/U) in a key divisional matchup. Following a disappointing loss to the Titans, the Texans are looking to rebound. Meanwhile, the Jaguars enter the game after enjoying a bye week. Last month, Houston secured a narrow 24-20 victory over Jacksonville.
Will Jacksonville manage to cover the spread at home? Continue reading for insights on the Texans vs. Jaguars matchup.
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Texans Seek Consistency After Unexpected Loss
The Houston Texans find themselves in a challenging position after dropping four of their last six games. Fortunately for them, they are leading their division, sitting two games ahead of the Colts with just five games left in the regular season. They recently achieved a strong victory against the Cowboys but unexpectedly fell 32-27 to the Titans last week, despite being favored by eight points. Houston has only managed to cover the spread in two of their last five outings.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud has displayed promise this season but has also made some critical mistakes with interceptions. At just 23 years old, he has thrown for over 250 yards in five games, including 247 yards last week. Stroud’s season stats include 2,875 passing yards and a 14:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Running back Joe Mixon remains a reliable option, achieving over 100 rushing yards in six games this year. He recorded only 22 yards last week, bringing his season total to 786 rushing yards. Wide receiver Nico Collins contributed significantly in the recent loss with 92 receiving yards, totaling 713 yards for the season. The Houston offense has struggled, scoring 23 or fewer points in three of their last five games, with an average of 336 total yards.
While the Texans’ defense has been a key strength, it has not performed at its peak lately. They allowed 26 points against the Lions and 32 points to a struggling Titans offense. On the season, Houston’s defense has kept opponents under 26 points in nine of their twelve games. They excel in pass defense, ranking fifth, and are 11th in rush defense.
Houston averages 23.8 points per game, placing them 11th overall, while allowing an average of 22.3 points, which ranks 15th.
Jaguars Aim for Revival Following Bye Week
The Jacksonville Jaguars are desperately seeking a silver lining as the season winds down. With only two wins to their name, they have faced a tough schedule and suffered four consecutive losses, including a harsh 52-6 defeat to the Lions. Prior to the bye week, they managed to cover the spread in four of their last five games.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence missed the Lions game due to a shoulder injury but returned to practice on Thursday. While he is listed as questionable, his participation is likely. Lawrence has thrown for 2,004 yards and has an 11:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season. If he cannot play, Mac Jones will step in, but he has struggled significantly, with just 277 passing yards and no touchdowns against three interceptions.
The Jaguars tend to rely more on their rushing game. Running back Tank Bigsby, who also missed the Lions game, is expected to play, having accumulated 519 rushing yards this season. Travis Etienne Jr. has had a tough stretch, recording fewer than 50 rushing yards in his last six appearances, totaling 325 rushing yards. Meanwhile, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has been productive, posting 82 yards in the recent loss and achieving 689 receiving yards for the season. The Jacksonville offense averages 290 yards per game.
However, the Jaguars’ defense has been a major issue, allowing 28 or more points in six games this year. They surrendered 28 points to the Eagles and a staggering 52 points against the Lions. The pass defense ranks last in the league, while the rush defense is also underperforming, coming in at 26th.
Overall, Jacksonville is scoring an average of 18.9 points per game, putting them 25th in the league, while their defense allows an average of 28.7 points, ranking them 30th.
Best Bets for Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
