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Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Odds & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on December 8, 2008

Prior to the season, this would have looked like a intriguing non-conference matchup. The Packers won the NFC North and finished with the second best record in the NFC overall. They went on to the NFC Championship Game before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants. The Jaguars easily made the playoffs in the tough AFC South with an 11-5 mark and won their initial wild card game against Pittsburgh before losing to eventual AFC champion New England. Oh what a difference a year can make. The Packers enter this Week 15 matchup at just 5-8 and the Jags at 4-9. Jacksonville is just 1-5 at home on the season and that’s the most likely reason for odds makers listing the Jags as the 2-point underdog with the total set at 45.5.

Backing the Packers or the Jags has not be a profitable NFL betting strategy of late. The Packers enter this week’s contest off three consecutive straight up and against the spread losses. The Jags come in off four straight up and against the spread defeats in a row. In fact, Jacksonville has been horrendous against the number all season long at just 3-10 and is 0-6 against the spread in home games this season.

Green Bay has lost five of its last six games and four of those losses have come by four points of fewer. Offensively, the Packers have put up solid numbers all season long behind starting QB Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay’s offense is averaging 28 ppg on the road this season. The trouble has been its defense which is allowing 28.3 ppg on the road. The defense has particularly struggled against the run this season, allowing a 4.8 yards per carry average and 142 rushing yards per game. This is what gives the Jags hope this week as they have the potential to run the football. Jacksonville’s defense has been what has held it back all season long as well. The Jags were one of the strongest defensive teams in the AFC a season ago but are relinquishing 25 ppg at home this season. Teams have been able to do most of their damage on Jacksonville through the air as the Jags are allowing a 64.8% completion rate at home and an average of 229 yards per game. Aaron Rodgers already has 3,192 yards passing and 22 touchdowns on the season, a successful first year as a starter by all accounts, but he has been less effective on the road. If you think Aaron Rodgers and the Packers can take advantage of Jacksonville’s defense, bet the Packers at -2 at Bookmaker and receive a 20% cash sign up bonus.

Jacksonville’s key to beating the Packers and the NFL odds for the first time at home this season will be its running game, led by Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor. While the two have combined for 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground this season, the Jags were hoping for even more production. The common denominator in all four of Jacksonville’s wins has been a strong ground attack. The Jags have averaged 171.75 rushing yards in their four wins this season. With the Packers, struggling to stop the run all season long, Jacksonville knows what it needs to do to win this football game. Now all it has to do is go out there and execute. Bet the Jaguars at +2 at Bookmaker.

Let Jimmy Boyd’s Sunday NFL picks steer you to another big day in the black this week.

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