Jaguars vs. Texans 2021 NFL Week 1 Odds, Preview and Prediction

By Carlos Chacon • September 8, 2021

Although many football fans would argue that the Week 1 game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans is the weakest matchup on the slate, there’s still plenty of intrigue in this early divisional clash. There’s Jacksonville rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s long-awaited NFL debut, as well as the first game for a Houston team still dealing with the fallout from Deshaun Watson’s off-field controversies.

NitroBetting is ready to equip its bettors with all the latest previews and odds for Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season. This time, we look at the early divisional showdown between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans. Find out more about the teams and the key players, event information, the latest NFL betting odds, and of course, helpful betting trends and expert betting predictions. Don’t forget to check out the latest 2021 NFL betting odds at out online Bitcoin sportsbook.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans Game Information

Head into Week 1 with the latest from Coach Meyer.#DUUUVAL
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) September 7, 2021

When: Sunday, September 12, 2021, 1:00 PM ET
Where: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
TV: CBS
Radio: WJXL AM 1010 (Jaguars) / SportsRadio 610 (Texans)
Live Stream:NFL Game Pass
NFL Odds: Jaguars (-2.5) / Texans (+2.5)

Why Bet on the Jacksonville Jaguars?

Things are finally looking up once again for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who’ve finished at the bottom of the AFC South standings in each of the last three seasons. Expectations are high with the newfound marriage between first-time NFL head coach Urban Meyer and the No. 1-overall pick at this year’s draft in Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence started out slow in his tune-up games but finished with two touchdown passes in his final preseason start to give the 21-year-old a little bit more confidence in his professional debut. The former Heisman Trophy candidate is complemented with young receivers on offense, with the likes of D.J. Chark and Laviska Shenault Jr. looking to have breakout seasons themselves.

Unfortunately, another rookie in running back Travis Etienne limits the Jags’ potential on offense, and this could mean a larger dependence on Lawrence to work his magic through the air. Then again, last year’s undrafted rookie standout James Robinson, who ran for over 1,000 rushing yards and seven TDs, is still a potent force out of the Jaguars backfield.

Why Bet on the Houston Texans?

Had it not been for superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson’s proclivity for shady massages, the Houston Texans would have had a better chance to compete for a division title at the very least this season. Sadly, Watson’s legal issues pretty much put Houston at the bottom of preseason rankings.

The Texans recently named Tyrod Taylor as their starter in Week 1 after a tense preseason battle against his QB peers in Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel. Taylor is an NFL veteran who is far from flashy or capable of putting up gaudy numbers, but his experience and ball security will keep Houston’s offense afloat.

Then there’s the Texans’ defense, which also has to deal with the departure of three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt. All these factors will give new head coach David Culley all sorts of issues to juggle with all season long. This means that making a good impression in the first week of the season is imperative; let alone against a division rival seemingly back on the upswing.

Jaguars vs. Texans Betting Trends

The Jaguars are currently on a nine-game road losing streak but have a decent 4-5 record against the spread during this stretch.
Since the 2019 season, the Jags are 2-3 in games wherein they were favored to win (SU/ATS).
The totals have gone down the middle at 4-4-1 over the Jaguars’ last nine road games.
The Texans went 2-6 at home last season (3-5 ATS).
The Texans are on a six-game win streak against Jacksonville (4-2 ATS).
The totals have gone under in all but one of those six most recent meetings against the Jags.

Jaguars vs. Texans Expert Betting Predictions

The Texans have not been pegged as underdogs in a game against the Jaguars since the 2018 season, and with good reason considering the dysfunction surrounding the Texas-based organization. Then again, perhaps fans and pundits alike are overestimating Lawrence’s potential to explode in Week 1 wherein his performances in the preseason were far from dominant. That being said, this AFC South showdown can still easily go either way, so even a straight-up bet for a Texans win isn’t as bad of a call as advertised.

Check out our latest sports betting guides for the 2021 NFL Regular Season. Stay tuned for more Football previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Football betting odds at our online Bitcoin sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.