Jacksonville Jaguars vs Las Vegas Raiders Point Spread Picks

This isn't precisely the marquee matchup of the Sunday NFL card, but it's still worth getting involved in fading the Jaguars as a road favorite for the first time in more than two seasons and not buying into it. Both teams suffered ugly defeats going into their bye last week. The Raiders weren't competitive in a 31-0 road loss to the Chiefs, while Jacksonville returned from London following a 35-7 defeat to the Rams. Raiders veteran coach Pete Carroll has much more experience in these situations than Jacksonville's first-year coach, Liam Coen. Expect the Raiders to be ready. The Jaguars didn't look good the week previous to their London loss, either, falling to the Seahawks at home, 20-12. No excuses for the Raiders, but they did go against the Chiefs without tight end Brock Bowers, and their star pass rusher, Maxx Crosby, was injured in the game. Those are Las Vegas' two best players. Both should play against the Jaguars. They are difference-makers. The Jaguars have given up big plays to tight ends. The Raiders hosted the Jaguars last December and won, 19-14. Take the Raiders. 

Two teams in a race to the bottom meet in this matchup, but the edge will go to Las Vegas as the Jaguars have lost nine of their past 10 road games and six of seven overall. Jacksonville is 3-10 against AFC opponents and 5-13-1 ATS in its last 19 December games. If one is looking for some positive trends for the Raiders, it is that they are 7-1 ATS in Week 16. The Jaguars have gone OVER seven of 10 games, and they soared OVER by 16 points while blowing Sunday's game against the New York Jets, who won 32-25 and outscored the Jags 25-12 in the second half. The Raiders had gone OVER four in a row before the defense showed up in the past three games. However, their best defensive player, Maxx Crosby, is out with an ankle injury for the year. Jacksonville allows 26.9 points per game, which is the sixth-worst in the NFL. This game is rated nearly even, so take the Raiders on the moneyline and the OVER.

If ever there was a team that wanted to redeem itself it would be the Las Vegas Raiders, who put on one of the worst performances in recent history while losing 24-0 at New Orleans and not crossing midfield until the final three minutes of the game. The Raiders actually had covered their three previous games and won two outright, but they came out totally flat against the Saints. Fortunately for the Raiders they get Jacksonville this week and the Jaguars are in worse shape having lost five in a row with an 0-5 ATS record. The Jags have averaged only 16.4 points during that span and the last two went UNDER. Las Vegas went UNDER by 24 points against the Saints and the Raiders have gone UNDER five of their past seven road games. Jacksonville is 5-0 UNDER its past five home games and 9-3 UNDER versus teams with losing records. Trevor Lawrence still is making rookie mistakes even though this is his second year and he threw two interceptions in Sunday's 21-17 loss to Denver in London. The Broncos had been struggling offensively this season, but they totaled 331 yards against the Jaguars, who are 8-21 ATS their past 29 games overall. Take the Raiders and the UNDER.

A pair of of struggling teams will do battle in Oakland as the 4-9 Jaguars take on Oakland. The Raiders looked the part of a playoff team at 6-4 but have lost three straight by a combined margin of 116-33. The Jacksonville Jaguars have been even more futile, becoming the first team in at least 30 years to lose five straight by 17 points or more. Home teams have struggled more than ever this season in the NFL and home favorites are just 47-73-6 ATS. That is just 3-10 ATS when both teams come into the game with a losing record and the line is -5 or more. I can't trust the Raiders giving nearly a TD and conversion. Play on Jacksonville for a Max Play.