While this matchup couldn’t be further away from impacting the playoffs, it does have some serious implications at the other end of the league. Both teams are 2-11, and with wins hard to come by for both franchises, whoever loses this one will likely secure the better NFL Draft slot. Let’s take a look at the Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Week 15 matchup, the NFL odds, and make a pick and prediction.
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars pick, prediction | Week 15
- Spread: Jaguars -3 (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Moneyline: Jaguars -155, Texans +135
- Over/Under: 41
It takes time to be good in the NFL. It’s very difficult to abide by the Justin Herbert standard of rookie quarterbacking in this league. What he did last year was nothing short of fascinating, but he didn’t do it on his own. Rookie QBs who find themselves in good situations have a better chance at success. An elite wide receiver. Elite coaching. An excellent run game. Guys who can cause turnovers on defense regularly, creating more opportunities and shorter fields. Trevor Lawrence has none of those things.
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The alarming thing is that Lawrence has only thrown 1 touchdown in his last six games. Not per game. In total. If the Jaguars are to win contests the way they’re situated right now, they’re more or less putting it all on Lawrence to be elite on every snap of the game. His receivers are dropping balls, the coaching staff refuses to use the run game, and the Urban Meyer circus will not leave town.
Now that’s not to say we’re making excuses for Lawrence’s poor decisions and turnovers. I just hope that we see some drastic changes in Jacksonville that give Lawrence a better chance at playing his best so that we can make a fair evaluation before it’s too late.
Can Davis Mills be the future for the Texans?
As for Davis Mills, he has struggled at times as well. As a rookie, a bad game typically turns into a worse one as you try harder and harder to correct your mistakes. Both QBs have 4-interception outings this season. But Mills has also had some excellent performances and seems to be able to make things happen. He’s out there playing for the starting job so that Houston doesn’t go out and spend a draft pick on the next guy.
He’s already shown what he can do this season against the Patriots and the Rams, and he did so again on Sunday against the Seahawks. Mills was 33-of-49 for 331 yards and a touchdown. Despite the loss, he’s showing on tape that he might just have something worth investing in.
Texans vs. Jaguars betting trends
Jacksonville is on a remarkable eight-game streak of cashing unders. They’ve covered only two overs all season. Against the Texans, they’ll face their lowest over/under total of the season at 41.
The Jaguars are struggling to score and have not managed more than 14 points in any of their last four games. They are 4-9 against the spread and have lost their last four in a row.
As for the Texans, the over/under totals are not much better. They’ve only cashed the over on five occasions, but the fifth came on Sunday, snapping a four-game streak of unders.
Put it this way: if you put together the two teams’ highest-scoring game of the last month, you would have a total of 36 points. But do the two bad rosters cancel each other out and result in a shootout?
Texans vs. Jaguars prediction
It comes down to this — I trust a Mills-led Houston offense more than I trust a Lawrence-led Jacksonville offense. I like the Texans, I like Mills to have a good game, and I’ll happily take the 3-point bonus. I’ll take the over too. These two rosters could actually result in a fun back-and-forth game with plenty of action.
Texans vs. Jaguars Prediction: Texans 30, Jaguars 21