Texans Jaguars Line

Written by Steve Janus

The Houston Texans will go on the road to face the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday. The Texans won 24-14 at home against the Jaguars back in week 8, but will be playing their first game without starting quarterback Matt Schaub, who was lost for the season in their last game against Tampa Bay. Houston has found it very hard to win at Jacksonville. The Texans haven’t won on the road in the series since beating the Jaguars 13-10 back in 2006.

Taking a look at the week 12 NFL lines, oddsmakers currently have the Texans favored by 3.5-points over the Jaguars with the total set at 37.5 points.

Houston Texans:

The Texans have had to deal with injuries to key players all season long, but that hasn’t stopped them from jumping out to a 7-3 record. They lead the AFC South by two games over the Tennessee Titans, but now must prove they can win without their starting quarterback.

Houston returns from their bye week with Matt Leinart under center. The former first round pick hasn’t started a game since November of 2009 when he had to make a spot start for an injured Kurt Warner while with Arizona.

While Leinart has been a bust since coming into the league back in 2006, he steps into a very good situation. The Texans are second n the NFL in rushing (158.1 ypg) behind the dynamic duo of Arian Foster and Ben Tate. Leinart will also make his first start the same week that star wide out Andre Johnson is expected to return to the lineup.

Expect a heavy dose of Foster and Tate against the Jaguars this Sunday. The duo combined for 154 yards and a touchdown earlier this season against Jacksonville. If the Texans struggle to run the ball this time around, they could be in trouble. Jacksonville is 4th in the NFL against the pass, allowing just 189.0 ypg.

Jacksonville Jaguars:

It has been a season full of disappointing losses for the Jaguars, who come in off a heartbreaking 10-14 loss at Cleveland last week. Jacksonville had 1st and goal from the 2-yard line with just seconds remaining, but time ran out after three straight failed pass attempts from rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert. The loss dropped the Jaguars to 3-7 on the season with six losses by 13-points or less.

Gabbert ended up going 20 of 41 for 210 yards, but once again failed to make the big play down the stretch. It was just the second time this season that Gabbert threw for more than 200 yards.

Jacksonville was forced to rely on the arm of Gabbert because they were having a hard time getting anything going on the ground. Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 87 yards on 21 attempts, and are now 0-6 when their star running back fails to rush for at least 100 yards.

If the first game against the Texans is any indication of what to expect this week, Jacksonville better hope their defense steps up big. Gabbert was just 10 of 30 for 97 yards with two interceptions and Jones-Drew was held to just 63 yards on 18 attempts.

Betting Trends:

Houston is 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0.

Jacksonville is 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.

Be sure to stop back and check out who Steve Janus has picked to win this week in the NFL.

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