NFL against the spread picks: Jaguars close in on NFL history – Yahoo Sports (blog)
There won’t be an announcement from the team, and there really won’t be a ceremony during the game to commemorate it, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are closing in on history.
The Jaguars are two games from a record. Including this week they have been underdogs in 41 straight games, according to OddShark.com. The record is 43 in a row by the 2007-09 St. Louis Rams, according to OddsShark’s database of closing lines that goes back 30 years.
Ah, but as with most historic marches to seemingly unbreakable records, this one might hit a snag.
The Jaguars are underdogs to the Houston Texans this week and certainly will be to the Baltimore Ravens next week. That brings them to 42. But for the game that would be No. 43 to tie this prestigious record, the Jaguars will host the Tennessee Titans, who might be even more awful than the Jaguars. In addition to being the absolute worst game the NFL could produce this season, it’s possible that the streak ends.
“Even though they have been dogs 41 in a row and will doubtless get points again next week at the Ravens, right now I would make them slim favorites against Tennessee for Week 16,” Kevin Bradley of Bovada.lv told OddsShark.com. “A lot can happen between now and then, but I would make them minus-1 right now, which doesn’t say a lot about the quality of the Titans.”
Oh no. This is Michael Jordan missing the shot against the Utah Jazz or Cal Ripken coming down with the flu the day of consecutive game 2,131. It would be a travesty to not see history made before our eyes.
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Our only hope is that the Jaguars look so bad the next couple weeks, oddsmakers have no choice but to make the Titans small favorites. Godspeed, fellas.
And here are the Week 14 against the spread picks, with the lines coming from Yahoo’s Pro Football Pick ’em, as usual:
Cowboys (-3.5) over Bears (picked Thursday): I’d like to say the Bears are one of the worst five teams in the NFL, but then you take stock of the NFL and you realize how many truly horrible teams there really are.
Bengals (-3) over Steelers: You know the rule, kids: Don’t pick Steelers games. Unless you have to, then you try to blindly guess which Steelers team will show.
Browns (+3.5) over Colts: This is one of those games that means a ton more to one team than the other. And the team that needs this one way more is at home.
Lions (-10) over Buccaneers: I’m planning to pick against the Buccaneers as long as they insist on the inexcusable decision to keep starting Josh McCown in a 2-10 season.
Giants (pick ’em) over Titans: I can’t figure out who will be watching this game. Odell Beckham fantasy owners? People who lost the remote?
Dolphins (-2.5) over Ravens: I don’t think the Dolphins are getting enough respect. I think they’re the better team here.
Vikings (-6) over Jets: The Vikings aren’t making a playoff push or anything, but they haven’t been bad. The Jets are certifiably bad.
Panthers (+10) over Saints: A reminder that a team which is a double-digit underdog to a 5-7 team is just a game-and-a-half out of first place.
Rams (-3) over Redskins: The Rams are actually playing good football. Which will lead to another disappointing start next year, then a rally late to get hopes up, then another disappointment the next year, and so on.
Texans (-5.5) over Jaguars: The point spread is what makes gambling on the NFL hard, and it’s supposed to even the playing field. In the first 40 games of the Jaguars’ underdog streak, they are 13-25-2 against the spread, which stinks even getting a handicap.
Bills (+10) over Broncos: Denver is reinventing itself as a bit more of a grind-it-out team, and the Bills have just a good enough defense to keep it to less than double digits.
Cardinals (-1) over Chiefs: The pendulum has swung too far on the Cardinals. They’re not the same team with Drew Stanton at quarterback, but they’re not bad either. That defense might swallow up a one-dimensional Chiefs offense.
49ers (-8) over Raiders: I think we saw last week that the Raiders won their Super Bowl in their lone win over the Chiefs. Now it’s just smooth sailing to offseason tee times.
Eagles (-1) over Seahawks: What a great game. So few of our “great games” have lived up to the hype this season, but I’m hoping this one does. I think this is the week people finally take notice of how good the Eagles are.
Patriots (-3.5) over Chargers: I might be talked into the Chargers if Bill Belichick and the Patriots weren’t coming off a loss.
Packers (-12.5) over Falcons: I hate giving more than 10 on an NFL game, but I don’t want to step in front of the Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau bus either.
Last week: 8-8
Season to date: 95-96
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
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