New England at Jacksonville Betting Analysis & Spread Pick – Week 7

NFL Week 7 – New England Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars

Where: Wembley Stadium (London, UK)

When: Sunday, October 20th at 9:30 AM EST

Watch: NFL Network

Betting Odds

• NE +5.5/Jax: -5.5
• Over/Under: 42.5

Bet this game and ALL your sports picks every week at -105 odds, instead of the spendy -110 betting odds you’re getting sapped with! Find this killer offer at Betanysports Sportsbook!

The NFL London series continues this weekend as the New England Patriots will travel overseas for a matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars, who played in London last week as well, have remained local and shifted from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over to Wembley for this one. On paper, these two teams are very similar and have statistics through 6 weeks that mirror one another. As we kick off an early morning start to our NFL Sunday, it is important to look at recent trends, playstyle, and schemes so that we don’t start our day on a losing note. Luckily for you, I have reviewed all the major factors that will influence this game and break it all down below so you can follow along. At the same time, the recent success of these two franchises leaves a lot to be desired; the game that will take place Sunday morning will not. You won’t want to miss your chance to make some money before the 1 PM slate even kicks off. Take a look below and decide for yourself!

New England Patriots Breakdown

The New England Patriots enter Week 7 with a 1-5 record and have had a rough fall from grace since the departure of Tom Brady and company. Surprisingly, the Patriots opened up their season with a home victory against the Bengals but have lost their last five and bring that losing streak with them to London. Adding to that baggage has been a barrage of injuries, inconsistent play, and shakeups in the starting lineups in hopes of finding a winning recipe.

In Week 6, New England demoted Jacoby Brissett in favor of rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Maye looked very much like a rookie early on in his first start, but provided the Patriots with a new level of explosiveness in their offense that ranks 30th in total yards and dead last in passing yards per game. Maye was able to extend plays and find open receivers while throwing for 243 yards and three touchdowns. His athleticism adds another dimension to the New England offense, but in typical rookie fashion, he made some risky throws that resulted in two interceptions. He will continue to learn and grow in this offense, but there will, of course, be growing pains along the way.

New England likes to utilize a run-heavy scheme behind Rhamondre Stevenson, but he is currently nursing a foot injury, and it is unclear if he will return to the field this week after missing last week’s contest. If he cannot return, Antonio Gibson will once again get the starting nod. Gibson has shown flashes on limited touches this year but was only able to muster 19 yards against a stingy Houston Texans defense. The connection between Maye and Demario Douglas looks like a promising storyline, though the sample size is small. Defensively, New England is ranked in the bottom third of the league in almost every statistical category, including total yardage allowed, passing yards, points per game, and 3rd down efficiency. Improvement at quarterback might give the defense more time off the field and limit the short-yardage situations they often face.

Jacksonville Jaguars Breakdown

The Jacksonville Jaguars feel like they have a second home in London, as it seems like they play there every season. Last week, they faced an upward-trending Bears team and never led after a 3-0 first quarter lead. Jacksonville also finds themselves at 1-5 this year, and coach Doug Peterson must be feeling the heat. A loss here in Week 7 might result in him finding his own way home from the UK.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has had a rollercoaster of a season but has still managed to throw for over 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns. As a unit, the Jags rank 16th in total offensive yards per game, but they’ve only generated 18.8 points per game and have struggled on 3rd down opportunities. Early in the season, Jacksonville had high hopes for running back Travis Etienne, but he has been outplayed by his backup, Tank Bigsby. Bigsby has racked up 297 yards to Etienne’s 230 and has done so with 15 fewer touches. To make matters worse, the Jaguars are preparing for Etienne’s absence this week due to a hamstring injury.

This change could be beneficial, as Jacksonville is hopeful they can spark the offense behind Tank. The receiving core has been unexpectedly shaky, and they are currently led by rookie Brian Thomas. Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis have underperformed, although Davis rebounded with two scores last weekend. The return of tight end Evan Engram should provide Trevor Lawrence with a reliable safety net and help them sustain drives.

While few defenses are statistically worse than New England this season, Jacksonville’s is one of them. They rank 30th in total yards allowed, dead last against the pass, 31st in points allowed per game, and 25th in 3rd down efficiency. Opponents are averaging over 275 air yards against them. However, they have been able to contain the run, currently ranking 11th in the league in that category.

My Pick: New England Patriots +5.5 (-110)

Having two back-to-back games in London and not having to travel may seem like a huge advantage. You’d be right if you were talking about almost any other team besides Jacksonville. The Jaguars’ lack of defensive presence is a recipe for disaster, and their inconsistent offensive output makes them hard to trust. New England found a spark behind rookie Drake Maye, and I expect that momentum to carry across the Atlantic. The Jaguars will have difficulty game-planning against Maye since there’s limited NFL tape on him. I think New England’s added energy will keep this game inside the number against a lethargic Jacksonville team.

BAS Sportsbook -105 Odds!

BetAnySports is the perfect 5Dimes replacement, offering reduced juice with -105 odds on most markets. If you’re looking to get more value from your bets, this is the sportsbook for you. With the same great features you loved about 5Dimes, BetAnySports provides competitive lines, smooth navigation, and a wide range of betting options. Ready to step up your game? Join now and enjoy -105 odds… Read More