The Bills will take on the Jaguars in NFL playoff action. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. EST at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The game will be broadcast live on CBS. Here's everything you need to know about Jaguars vs. Bills odds, the latest NFL spreads, NFL over/unders, and more.
The Bills opened as a -1.5 point favorite over Jaguars and are favored at 51 cents to win. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are priced at 50 cents. The total is set at over/under 51.5 total points scored by both teams combined.
Jaguars vs Bills Prediction
My Jaguars vs Bills Pick: Bills to Win (51 cents)
My Jaguars vs. Bills best bet is on the Bills to win at 51 cents.
Jaguars vs. Bills Odds
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Jaguars vs. Bills Betting Preview
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have been playing amazing football throughout the second half of the season. After a 5-4 start — which isn't overly impressive, yet was still questioned — Jacksonville answered the doubts by winning its final eight games of the season.
While people can still argue that the Jaguars played a ton of easy opponents in that stretch, it shouldn't be ignored that they also dominated the Los Angeles Chargers 35-6 to start the streak, and also went on the road and beat the Denver Broncos (the No. 1 seed in the AFC) 34-20 in that span.
On the flip side of that argument, in their 5-4 start, the Jaguars lost to the Bengals, despite a three-interception game from Cincinnati QB Jake Browning after he replaced an injured Joe Burrow. They also lost to the Seahawks and Texans in close games and got dominated by the Rams at home. That means that the key to a successful playoff run for the Jaguars is getting the late-season version of Jacksonville to continue to show up in the playoffs.
The pivotal piece in that late-season run was Trevor Lawrence's career year. Lawrence had his third 4,000-yard passing season in the past four seasons, but also paired that with career-highs for passing touchdowns (29), rushing yards (359), and rushing touchdowns (nine).
Lawrence's (albeit limited) playoff career has been a roller coaster, though. In his first playoff game, he threw four interceptions in the first six drives of the game, but then rallied to throw four touchdowns and lead a 27-point comeback against the Chargers.
In his second playoff game, the Jaguars allowed Chad Henne to lead a second-quarter touchdown drive and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Lawrence had one touchdown and one interception in that game, and in his playoff career, he has five touchdowns and five interceptions. If Lawrence plays like that on Sunday, the Jaguars are in trouble.
Buffalo Bills
When you look at the Bills' season game-by-game, you almost have to squint. The Bills lost to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, then beat the Carolina Panthers 40-9 in their next game. They dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road (26-7), then got in a snow-game shootout with the Bengals the very next game, barely escaping with a 39-34 win.
And those are not the only examples of back-to-back games where the Bills looked like two completely different teams. Just as the Jaguars (and Lawrence) will have to maintain their late-season form, the Bills will need the "good Bills," not the "bad Bills," to show up.
As elementary as that analysis may sound, there is no perfect explanation for why Buffalo has weeks where it beats the New England Patriots on the road in comeback fashion, then struggles to beat the Cleveland Browns.
If the inconsistent Bills come out flat, their playoff run will come to an early end. However, the difference in this game is the opportunity in front of Buffalo. There's no Joe Burrow this year. There's no Patrick Mahomes. There's no Lamar Jackson (even though the Bills always beat Baltimore when it matters).
If there were ever a year for the Bills to win their first Super Bowl, this year has to be the one. There are just too many things that have gone right for Buffalo, and even though they will be going on this run away from Highmark Stadium, Josh Allen will be the best player on the field in every game (except for against the Patriots if you're a Drake Maye supporter).
Jaguars vs. Bills Pick
So, where do you go in this game? Do you back the Bills and their consistent playoff experience? Do you bank on the Jaguars continuing their end-of-season dominance?
This will be a close game, and maybe the hardest to predict in the Wild Card round. But the reality is, quarterbacks and rushing attacks win in the postseason, and Buffalo has the advantage in both of those areas.
The Bills have been here before, and they will get it done, even on the road.
My Pick: Bills Moneyline at 51 cents
