The Jacksonville Jaguars will take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday morning to help kick off Week 8. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Jaguars-Seahawks prediction and pick.
This isn't the most interesting game on paper, but it's extremely important for both of these teams. The Jaguars are coming off of their only win and their bye week after one of the most turbulent weeks in franchise history. Another good showing from head coach Urban Meyer's squad would go a long way here in restoring some faith to the locker room.
The Seahawks are in the midst of a three game losing streak after an injury to quarterback Russell Wilson, so Seattle desperately needs a win here. Another defeat essentially sinks their playoff hopes, so a victory is a necessity in this one.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the lines for Sunday's Jaguars-Seahawks matchup.
NFL Odds: Jaguars-Seahawks Odds
Jacksonville Jaguars +3 1/2 (-105)
Seattle Seahawks -3 1/2 (-115)
Over 44 1/2 points (-108)
Under 44 1/2 points (-112)
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Why The Jaguars Can Cover The Spread
Jacksonville's ability to cover may rely more on how poor the Seahawks have been with quarterback Geno Smith in the lineup. The Seahawks are 0-2 with Smith as a starter this season, and while both games have been close, neither was against a particularly good team. Seattle managed to take the Pittsburgh Steelers to overtime in a loss before scoring ten points at home in a loss to the New Orleans Saints. The offensive line issues in Seattle are even more obvious now that a less mobile quarterback is in the lineup, and the rest of the offense has had trouble functioning without Wilson. It doesn't help that starting running back Chris Carson is out of the lineup along with Wilson. The Jaguars are catching this Seattle at the best possible time.
The Seahawks haven't fielded an above-average defense since the Legion of Boom days, and that should show in this game. Rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence is coming off of his first 300-yard passing day in the NFL, and there's a decent chance that he keeps up his efficiency in this one. This Seattle defense has allowed over 300 passing yards in four of their seven contests. They've also been horrible against the run, as the Seahawks have allowed 134 yards per game to opposing rushing attacks. Jacksonville running back James Robinson has been fantastic this season, and he should be able to take a lot of pressure off of Lawrence in this one.
Why The Seahawks Can Cover The Spread
While the Seahawks may not be the most explosive offense without Russell Wilson, they should still be good enough to put up points on the Jaguars. Jacksonville just allowed over 300 yards passing to Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins, someone who isn't much better than Smith. The Jaguars have allowed a 300-yard passing day in four games this season, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Smith play well and run the offense without much trouble here.
Seattle's running game will certainly play a huge part in this contest. The Jaguars have allowed 114 rushing yards per game, a number that places them just below the league average. That stat should be much worse for Jacksonville, as teams just prefer to pass the ball because of how poor the Jaguars are against the aerial attack. The Jaguars have allowed more than four yards per carry in each of their last three games, and that streak should continue against the Seahawks.
Final Jaguars-Seahawks Prediction & Pick
It's tough to have any confidence in this Geno Smith-led Seahawks team. They haven't done much to inspire any sort of faith, and the Jaguars are coming off of their only win and a bye week. Take Jacksonville here with the over as a side bet.
FINAL JAGUARS-SEAHAWKS PREDICTION & PICK: Jacksonville Jaguars +3 1/2 (-110)
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