Saints as 2.5-Point Underdogs vs Jaguars Receiving More Bets & Money Than Any Other Team in Week 6
- The New Orleans Saints are 2.5-point underdogs Sunday at Jacksonville against the Jaguars
- The Saints are without QB Drew Brees (thumb surgery) and RB Alvin Kamara (ankle) is questionable
- Read below for the odds, stats and analysis of this Week 6 matchup
To say that the line on Sunday’s New Orleans Saints-Jacksonville Jaguars game has been in a constant state of flux would be a massive understatement.
The game opened with the hometown Jaguars listed as 2.5-point favorites. It dropped down to a pick, and then to the Saints -1.
Almost as quickly, the Jaguars bounced back into the favorite’s role. As Sunday’s 1 pm kickoff nears, Jacksonville is once again established as the 2.5-point chalk in the Saints vs Jaguars odds & stats.
New Orleans Saints vs Jacksonville Jaguars Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Over/Under at |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | +129 | +2.5 (-103) | Over 43.0 (-110) |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | -149 | -2.5 (-117) | Under 43.0 (-110) |
Odds taken 10/11/19.
Online sportsbooks report that the Saints are the most bet NFL team this week in terms of total wagers. The sportsbook also indicates they’ve handled the most money on New Orleans.
Kamara Questionable for Saints
Eyebrows were raised and flags of concern waved at practice Friday when New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara was absent. It was later reported that he’s questionable for Sunday’s game due to an ankle injury.
Kamara’s backup Latavius Murray also missed practice but it was for a personal reason and he’s expected to play Sunday. Murray has 94 yards on 24 carries this season.
Update on Saints RBs: Alvin Kamara officially listed as questionable after not practicing Friday with an ankle injury. We’ll find out Saturday if he travels to Jacksonville. … Latavius Murray is expected to play after missing Friday’s practice for a personal reason. https://t.co/l7OSJX3H9a
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 11, 2019
Kamara leads the Saints and is 12th in the NFL with 342 rushing yards. He’s averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Kamara is also second on the team in pass receptions (26) and receiving yardage (241). He averages 20.2 touches per game.
If Kamara is out, the Jaguars can focus more attention on slowing down New Orleans wide receiver Michael Thomas. He leads the NFL in receptions (45), receiving yardage (543) and is second in yards per game (108.6).
Jaguars Can Rev it Up
While Jacksonville’s defense usually gets most of the attention and accolades, the Jags are balling on offense this season. In fact, Jacksonville is the only NFL team with a player in top five in the league in receiving and rushing yards.
Leonard Fournette breaks big runs in back to back to back games.
A nice 69-yarder in Week 3, a big 81-yarder on Week 4 and now a 48-yarder. pic.twitter.com/Q29JcB50X6
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 6, 2019
Running back Leonard Fournette is third in the NFL in rushing with 512 yards. He’s averaging 166.5 yards per game the last two weeks after gaining just 179 yards through the first three games of the season. But the Saints’ defense has gone 31 games without allowing a 100-yard rusher.
Wide receiver DJ Chard is fifth in receiving yardage (485) and tied for second in the league with five touchdown catches.
Battle of the Backups
Both Teddy Bridgewater of the Saints and rookie Gardner Minshew of the Jaguars are only under center for their teams because the starter was injured.
The Saints lost Drew Brees, the NFL’s all-time passing leader, to thumb surgery following a Week 2 injury. The Jags lost Super Bowl 52 MVP Nick Foles to a broken left clavicle in the season opener.
Teddy Bridgewater threw for 300+ yards on Sunday for the first time since 2015. 🙏 @Saints | #Saints | @teddyb_h2o pic.twitter.com/zfxkBZ4vEH
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2019
Both second-string QBs turned in their best games of the season in Week 5. Bridgewater passed for 341 yards and four TDs in a 31-24 win over Tampa Bay.
Minshew topped 300 yards for the first time in his career, throwing for 374 yards and two TDS. He’s thrown nine TDs against one interception. But Minshew has been sacked 12 times and fumbled seven times.
Saints Preserve It
New Orleans is 3-0 straight up and 4-0 against the spread when facing Jacksonville. Bridgewater showed what he can do last week and the Jags are minus All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey (back).
6 sacks today for the #Saints defense! pic.twitter.com/ihgIuMvGPZ
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 6, 2019
The Saints have recorded 16 sacks. They will pressure Minshew and control Fournette.
Take the points and play New Orleans.
Pick: New Orleans Saints (+2.5).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
