The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) and Denver Broncos (0-1) will clash in Week 2 of the NFL season this afternoon. Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. ET from Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Col. The game will broadcast live on CBS.
The Broncos are 2.5-point favorites over the Jaguars on the spread (Broncos -2.5), with the over/under set at 45.5 total points. Denver is a -148 moneyline favorite to win outright, while Jacksonville is listed as a +126 underdog to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Jaguars vs Broncos predictions for Sunday, September 20.
Jaguars vs Broncos Prediction
- Jaguars vs Broncos pick: Broncos -2.5 (-120)
My Jaguars vs Broncos best bet is Denver to cover the spread (-2.5), with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
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Jaguars vs Broncos Odds
| Jaguars Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -102 | 45.5 -105o / -115u | +126 |
| Broncos Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -120 | 45.5 -105o / -115u | -148 |
Jaguars vs Broncos NFL Week 2 Preview
Jaguars Betting Preview: Due for Regression
The Jaguars are riding a 9-0 straight-up and against the spread (ATS) streak in their last nine regular-season games, but context is everything here.
Look at the quarterbacks they have faced during that stretch: Deshaun Watson, Riley Leonard, Brady Cook, Philip Rivers, and Brandon Allen.
Last week, the Jaguars looked great, but they were playing a Browns team that doesn't have a functional NFL quarterback and is sorely missing Myles Garrett.
We are at the top of the market for Jacksonville. The Jags' defense is due for turnover regression, and the loss of Devin Lloyd in the middle of the field is going to be felt.
Now, they have to travel out west to play in the Denver altitude early in the season, which is traditionally a massive home-field advantage.
Broncos Betting Preview: Ignore Last Week
The Broncos defense was a mess on Monday Night Football, but I am treating that as an outlier performance. They allowed 248 missed tackle yards on just 18 total air yards from Patrick Mahomes.
A 30% missed tackle rate is the third-highest in NFL history, and I simply don't believe a fundamentally sound defense suddenly forgot how to tackle overnight.
Offensively, things are going to change.
Offensive coordinator Davis Webb looked out of his depth calling plays in Week 1, and head coach Sean Payton has already hinted that he could be taking over the play sheet.
Payton is coming off a loss in this spot, and he is the second-most profitable coach in NFL history ATS after a defeat (61-37-1, 62%).
Bo Nix and the offensive line should be much sharper with Payton pulling the strings.
Jaguars vs Broncos Prediction, Betting Analysis
I love Denver -2.5 in this spot. This line ticked down from -3, and I firmly believe it should still be sitting at a field goal.
The Broncos are basically running back the same high-floor defensive roster from last year, and they are in a prime bounce-back spot with elite coaching adjustments coming from Sean Payton.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville's current regular-season win streak is inflated by a hilariously weak schedule of opposing quarterbacks.
Pick: Broncos -2.5 (-120)
