Jaguars vs. Texans Total Prediction
The Jaguars and Texans both dropped their respective Week 1 matchups and the AFC South rivals will clash in Houston at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday. Will the offenses struggle to generate enough points to hit the over for bettors?
Game Snapshot
273 Jacksonville Jaguars (+9.5) at 274 Houston Texans (-9.5); O/U 43.5
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Public Betting Trends
According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Texans are receiving 63% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.
Jacksonville Jaguars Fantasy Spin
Gardner Minshew completed 22-of-25 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the Jaguars’ 40-26, Week 1 loss to the Chiefs. Forced on in relief of an injured Nick Foles (collarbone) late in the first quarter, Minshew played shockingly well, spreading the ball around to D.J. Chark, Chris Conley and Dede Westbrook. Minshew simply wasn’t missing any throws. You could say he was taking advantage of a plus matchup, but there really is no such thing as a plus matchup for a sixth-round rookie forced into a game mid-contest. With Foles likely out 6-8 weeks, Minshew will get a chance to sink or swim, though the Jags will be forced to sign a veteran this week. Despite today’s promising showing, Minshew will be a bottom-barrel QB2 on the road in Houston next Sunday.
Houston Texans Fantasy Spin
Deshaun Watson completed 20-of-30 passes for 268 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the Texans’ 30-28, Week 1 loss to the Saints Monday night, adding a fourth touchdown and 40 rushing yards on the ground. Watson got the scoring started with a helicoptering 21-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-1. He was hit as he soared through the air into the end zone and appeared to injure his back on the play. Watson spent the rest of the game in and out of the medical tent and getting back massages on the sideline after the awkward fall. That didn’t keep him from lighting up the stat sheet. Watson later found DeAndre Hopkins for two- and 16-yard touchdowns in the second and third quarters. And with 37 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Watson stood firm in the pocket and threw a strike to Kenny Stills for a 37-yard touchdown to put the Texans up by one only to see Saints K Wil Lutz make a field goal as time expired. Watson also took six sacks in this one after taking a league-high 62 in 2018. Watson will be a top-three QB1 next week at home against the Jaguars.
NFL Betting Trends
Jacksonville
The under is 4-1 in the Jaguars’ last five games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Houston
The under is 9-2 in the Texans’ last 11 games when coming off a successful cover in their previous game.
Prediction
Minshew played exceptionally well given the circumstances last week but this will be his first professional game on the road. I don’t expect him to play as well as the expectations are ramped up and the Texans’ defense should fare better now that they’re out of the Superdome. The same goes for the Jaguar defense, which doesn’t have to deal with Patrick Mahomes this week. The under is 11-5 in the Jags’ last 16 games following a loss and is 4-0 in the Texans’ last four home games.
NFL Week 2 Prediction: Jaguars/Texans UNDER 43.5