NFL Week 12 Preview: Jaguars vs. Texans Odds and Best Bets

With respect to Bills Mafia and the “Go Birds” crowd, we have covered Philadelphia enough in this column. For our Game of the Week, we are turning our attention to two of the most fun (not best, but fun) teams in the league. Jacksonville at Houston may well be the AFC South Championship Game.

The Texans whooped the Jaguars 37-17 in week 3, in Jacksonville. This was a coming out party for Houston rookie WR Tank Dell (5-145 with a TD) and was the first win in C.J. Stroud’s career. Safe to say, Stroud-to-Dell is still going strong.

Now the game is in Houston, the Texans have won six of eight, and they can take over the lead in the division with a win. The good news for Jacksonville: They are 4-0 away from Duval County. Buckle up. Here’s the Jaguars vs. Texans odds and our best bets.

The Achilles heel of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ entire season has been their penchant for giving up the big play in the passing game. Jacksonville has allowed 11 passes of at least 40 yards in just 10 games. Another 12 have gone for at least 20 yards. Chunk plays are available against this defense, and the Texans have the weapons to take advantage.

In week 3, Stroud connected with Dell for passes of 46 and 68 yards…

…and also hit Nico Collins for 29.

Look for Houston to look downfield early and often. The good news: You only need one to hit for the bet to cash.

It’s not fair when a young QB with a cannon for an arm can also do this.

Let us all be blessed to be as good at one thing as Lawrence is at both throwing and running with the football.

This week, Lawrence goes up against a Texans defense that has been strong against the run but has been less effective against QB runs in recent weeks. Houston allowed 20 yards to the at-the-time healthy Joe Burrow, then let Kyler Murray rack up 51 last week. Then again, Murray is equally freakish.

Lawrence has rushed for at least 16 yards in six games this season, and 15 in another. In a game in which fireworks are expected, he will have plenty of chances to scramble and pick up some easy yards on the ground.

Last week, the Texans and Cardinals treated us to a shootout in the first half. Houston led 21-10 at halftime, and over bettors (raises hand) were gleefully waiting for the game to cruise into the 50s.

About 90 minutes later, we were all using those bet slips as kindling, as they combined for just a single touchdown in the second half (with a missed two-point conversion to boot).

The matchups suggest the offenses will lead the way in this one. But we are also guarding against what seems to be a trend throughout the season. All year long, we have seen games that go over their first half total, then end under the final number. The full-game O/U has risen at least a point and a half during the week, so the value on the over is lost. But we can still anticipate these teams throwing haymakers in the early rounds, in climate-controlled in Texas, and getting to at least 14-10 by half.

This should be a highly entertaining game between two teams trying to cement themselves as contenders in the AFC. The winner has a leg-up in the division race, while the loser enters a crowded Wild Card field. The line is narrow, with Jacksonville in the rare position of being the more experienced team in “big games.” We’re staying away from a side in this one, and just rooting for fun.

While you get ready for Week 12, Sidelines has you covered. Check out our top-five picks for the 12th week of the NFL season along with key prop bets to consider.