The Jaguars are definitely worth betting on this week with Urban Meyer gone
Simple addition by subtraction means it's time to ride with Jacksonville.
Normally, advising someone to bet on the Jacksonville Jaguars is grounds for immediately disregarding any words that follow such an absurd idea. That’s especially true for a 2-11 Jaguars team on a five game losing streak.
My dear degenerates, these are not normal times. Not when Urban Meyer is getting fired at 12:40 a.m. local time just 13 games into a five-year contract.
These are the times when it’s OK to sit back and laugh at the misfortune of others, because of all the powerful people in sports, Meyer was among the least deserving of his status. Now his time in the NFL has come to an end, but the real party will occur on Sunday.
That’s when the Jags host the Houston Texans and get to show what addition by subtraction truly looks like. And it’s why bets began pouring in on a Jacksonville win within moments of Meyer’s dismissal.
On Dec. 14, Tipico Sportsbook listed the Jaguars as -180 favorites on the moneyline. By Thursday morning, after the majority of football fans awoke to news of Meyer’s ousting, the line swayed even further towards Jacksonville. It now sits at -220. The spread has seen the Jags move from -3.5 at open to -4.5 now. It’s likely to keep trending in that direction and if you haven’t already added Jacksonville to your bet slip at this point, what are you waiting for?
It’s well-documented just how badly Meyer mismanaged the roster. Not only was he unable to recall who he gave playing time to, but even when Meyer knowingly benched players like top tailback James Robinson, he tried to pass off the blame to his assistants.
How’d that work out?
Well, rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence wasted no time telling reporters that Robinson needed to be on the field in order for the Jags to have a chance.
Placing a bet on perceived locker room vibes is not a system worth following, but you have to imagine both the players and remaining coaches are in a much better headspace now that Meyer is gone.
So, screw it. We’re riding with the Jags this week. Houston has been complete garbage this year and the fact that it beat Jacksonville in Week 1—Meyer’s NFL head coaching debut—should only further amp up the Jags for a rematch.
Take -4.5. Take the moneyline. Take both.
This week, we are all Jaguars fans.
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