Giants vs. Jaguars Spread Prediction
The Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves in a rare spot as a road favorite to open a new season and the New York Giants are rarely a home dog at the start of a new year. Is there value in the Giants for NFL bettors?
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 42 points. As of this writing, 56% of the public betting tickets are on the Jaguars to cover the point spread.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars DT Marcell Dareus is not listed on the injury report ahead of Week 1. Dareus picked up a pectoral injury in the third preseason game, but he will be all systems go for the season opener. In the 12 games after acquiring Dareus last season, including the playoffs, the Jaguars allowed just 3.71 yards per carry.
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 Jaguars have covered the spread in nine of their last 13 road games.
New York
The Giants have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games played in the month of September.
Prediction
Both of these teams could struggle to move the ball and with the game likely turning ugly from a viewer’s standpoint, I see value in the Giants. Jacksonville’s identity offensively is to pound Leonard Fournette and set up the play-action passing game for Blake Bortles. The Giants’ strength defensively, however, is stopping the run thanks to mammoth defensive tackle Damon Harrison. Without Marqise Lee (IR) and Allen Robinson, now with the Bears, I don’t see the Jaguars getting their passing game going. This game comes down to a field goal so I’m grabbing the three now with the Giants.
NFL Preseason Prediction: New York Giants +3