by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2022
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Where to watch: Prime Video
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Jets -1; Jaguars -115, Jets -105; O/U 38
FanDuel: Jaguars -1.5; Jaguars -112, Jets -104; O/U 37.5
BetMGM: Jets -1; Jets -115, Jaguars -105; O/U 38
Caesars: Even; Even; O/U 38
Season record
Jaguars: 6-8
Jets: 7-7
We’re coming down the home stretch of the NFL season and there’s still a lot left to get excited for on your TV screen (or your streaming device if you’re like me and watch Sunday Ticket on a Fire Stick. That works, too). Nevertheless, the final few weeks of the regular season are going to be hectic for everyone on the field, but just as much as everyone off it. You’re probably going to need to figure out which plays are the best ones in terms of teams sitting the star players for the playoff advantage, or which teams are going all in for the final playoff push. If you need that extra push, trust that our champion handicappers can get the job done for you. Matt Fargo has a 17-9-0 run over the last 30 days in the NFL. Brian Bitler has continued to stay consistent, despite a wild, unpredictable season, by going 16-9-0. Do you want a piece of this action? Make sure to stay locked to bigal.com and follow our champion handicappers so you can be a champion, too!
Jaguars - Jets preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Jaguars: won 40-34 (OT) vs. Cowboys
Jets: lost 20-17 vs. Lions
Jaguars analysis
The path to immortality is right there for the taking for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Win out, and you’re going to the playoffs. Lose, and help may be needed. But the Jaguars are in a tremendous position to get to the playoffs with the last bit of their schedule remaining.
Following their miraculous 40-34 overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the Jaguars have rallied off three wins in four games and are 4-1-1 in their last six against the spread. Remember that five-game losing streak from earlier in the year? A distant memory right now.
The Jaguars have also seen plenty of points over the last month and a half with four overs cashing and three of them by at least 12 points. Trevor Lawrence has started to put things together and looks like the quarterback everyone hoped he’d be. Lawrence threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns, while Travis Etienne ran for 103 yards on 19 carries.
There was never any question about what to do with Jacksonville’s defense. That’s going to be a work-in-progress for a while. They’re 27th in the league in defense and 29th against the pass. Thankfully for them, they don’t need to worry about the Jets passing the ball this week because the Jets don’t believe in passing the ball. But the Jags are going against a very tough Jets defense that has slowed down many a dynamic offenses. If anything, the offense is going to be in for a tough workout.
Jets analysis
The good luck for the New York Jets has officially worn off and it’s time to re-evaluate everything for next season. Since that 31-10 win against Chicago, the Jets have lost their last three games by a combined 16 points, capped by last week’s tough 20-17 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Detroit Lions.
That second part might be a bit hyperbolic, but the Jets are trying to stay afloat with Zach Wilson at quarterback. To an extent, they did if the Jets only lost by 3 points. Problem is the Jets couldn’t run, either, with just 50 rushing yards against the Lions.
Ironically, the Jets have been a .500 team against the spread with alternating ATS wins and losses over the last eight. It should be noted that the Jets have been underdogs in five of those eight. I still can’t get over how Zach Wilson threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns. Sure, it took almost completing 50% of his passes, but even miracles happen during Christmas time.
And if you’re expecting a change in the scoring barrage any time soon, think again. The under is 5-0 in the Jets’ last five against AFC opponents, despite the over being 5-1 in the Jets’ last six Thursday games. Find the one that’s happened more often and stick with that.
Prediction
The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings, while the favorite is 5-2 in the last seven. That would favor the Jets. But there should be no faith in the Jets trying to contain the Jaguars for long enough. This is going to be a weird game in which you should take the red-hot team. Jaguars by 3
Betting trends
Jaguars are 48-70 ATS after covering the spread in two of the last three all-time.
Jets are 17-6 ATS at home after gaining 50 rushing yards or fewer since 1992.
Jaguars are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 conference games.
Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
Statistical leaders
Jaguars:
Passing: Trevor Lawrence – 3,520 yards, 24 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Travis Etienne – 917 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Christian Kirk – 966 yards, 7 TD
Defense: Foyesade Ofuokun – 156 tackles
Jets:
Passing: Zach Wilson – 1,596 yards, 6 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Breece Hall – 463 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Garrett Wilson – 966 yards, 4 TD
Defense: Quinnen Williams – 11 sacks
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
