Week 6 Free Pick: New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

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The New Orleans Saints (+0) are making a trip east to battle the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. This early afternoon game starts at 1:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to CBS.

Betting Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints

This matchup is currently a toss-up, and if one side can create a bunch of points early it’ll produce a worthwhile betting opportunity in-game. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 43.5 points.

The game’s total has yet to change after it was set initially at 43.5. Having said that, the line opened at -3 and has recently moved up to 0.

The profitable Saints are 3-2 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 4.0 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 3-2.

The Jaguars have lost 0.7 units this season. The team is 3-2 ATS and also owns an O/U record of 3-2.

The Saints are 4-1 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Jaguars are 2-3 SU.

The Saints just got a 31-24 victory over Tampa Bay in Week 5 where the defense allowed the Buccaneers to pass for 204 yards and rush for 94 yards. Chris Godwin had a good day for the Buccaneers in that one with 125 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches. On the offensive side, Teddy Bridgewater completed 26-of-34 passes for 314 yards, four scores and one interception. Alvin Kamara (62 rushing yards on 16 attempts) led the ground attack while Michael Thomas (11 receptions, 182 yards, two TDs) and Kamara (six catches, 42 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.

In Week 5, Carolina took care of this Jacksonville team by a score of 34-27. The Jags defense let the Panthers run for 285 yards on 27 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Christian McCaffrey was outstandingfor the Panthers, recording 176 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 attempts, along with 61 yards on six catches. For Jacksonville, Gardner Minshew II completed 26-of-44 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns. Leonard Fournette (108 rushing yards on 23 attempts, one TD) handled the running attack as DJ Chark Jr. (eight receptions, 164 yards, two TDs) and Dede Westbrook (seven catches, 82 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.

Looking at offensive play-calling, each team sports a strikingly similar (58-42 pass-to-run ratio on the season. The Saints have run for 104.4 yards/game and have two scores on the ground this year. The Jags are averaging 138 rush yards per game and have only one rushing TD.

The Saints offense has averaged 257.6 yards in the air overall and has eight passing scores so far. The Jags have recorded 270.8 pass yards per contest and have 10 total pass TD.

Defensively, New Orleans has allowed opponents to run for an average of 108.4 yards and pass for 276.8 yards per game. The Jacksonville D has given up 265 yards per game to opposing passers and 136.6 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Saints have given up an ANY/A of 7.31 to opposing QBs, while the Jags are yielding an ANY/A of 7.03.

Minshew II has connected on 91-of-132 passes for 1,066 yards, seven TDs and one INT. Minshew II’s adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 7.96 for the year and 7.43 across his last two games. In the other locker room, Bridgewater is up to 656 passing yards this year, and has completed 62-of-91 attempts with six passing touchdowns and only one interception. Bridgewater has a 7.69 ANY/A, including 6.57 over the last two outings.

New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Prediction

SU Winner: Jaguars, ATS Winner: Jaguars, O/U: Over

Betting Notes

  • New Orleans has averaged 3.9 yards per rush attempt over its past three games and 3.9 over its last two.
  • Jacksonville has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 6.1 over its past two.
  • The Jacksonville offense has lost five fumbles this season while New Orleans has lost one.
  • The Saints offense has tallied three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Jaguars have put up one such play.
  • The New Orleans defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Jacksonville has given up six such plays.
  • The New Orleans offense has created two rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Jacksonville has created four such runs.
  • Both defenses have allowed four rushing plays of 20 or more yards. The Saints have given up 15 running plays of 10+ yards while the Jaguars have given up 16 such plays.
  • Each team defense has recorded 16 sacks this year.