Jaguars vs. Giants Total Prediction
The Jacksonville Jaguars fell one win shy of a Super Bowl appearance last year and will begin their pursuit of the playoffs on the road this year. Will Sunday’s matchup between the Jaguars and Giants turn into a defensive struggle?
Game Snapshot
461 Jacksonville Jaguars at 462 New York Giants
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 9, 2018
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Jaguars are 3-point favorites to beat the Giants. The total, meanwhile, sits at 43.5 points. As of this writing, 56% of the public betting tickets are on the Jaguars to cover the point spread.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (core-muscle injury) is expected to practice Thursday. That is according to the Jaguars’ pre-practice report. It remains unclear how much work he will get after sitting out Wednesday’s session. If he plays, ASJ will be a streaming option against the Giants.
New York Giants
Saquon Barkley (hamstring) is not listed on the Giants’ injury report for Week 1 against the Jaguars. Barkley missed a chunk of training camp while tending to a hamstring injury, though his availability for Sunday’s opener was never in doubt.
NFL Betting Trends
Jacksonville
The over is 10-3 in the Jaguars’ last 13 games played in September.
New York
The under is 6-1 in the Giants’ last seven games overall.
Prediction
Even if the Jaguars take a massive step backward this season after nearly upsetting the Patriots in the AFC title game last year, 12 of the top 14 players on their second-ranked defense are back…and that defense is no fluke. Barkley could be on the verge of superstardom but he’s going to have his work cut out for him in his first game as a pro. With a declining Eli Manning under center and stud corner Jalen Ramsey on Odell Beckham Jr., I don’t see many big plays coming from the Giants on Sunday. With both teams pounding the ball on the ground with their running game (Barkley for the Giants and Leonard Fournette for the Jags), I see this matchup being one of the better under plays for Week 1.
NFL Week 1 Prediction: Jaguars/Giants under 43.5