The Kansas City Chiefs open their 2019 NFL Season with a showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville on September 8, 209
The Kansas City Chiefs had an impressive 2018 season where they finished with a 12-4 regular-season record and where they were an offside penalty away from winning the AFC title game. Patrick Mahomes mesmerized the NFL as the #1 rated quarterback in the league while leading the Chiefs to the #1 total offense and #1 scoring team in the entire NFL. Mahomes was named MVP for his accomplishments but their offense wasn’t enough to carry them to the Super Bowl. Their defense ranked 31st in total yards allowed, forcing Mahomes to win games on offense, which he couldn’t do all the time. This summer, the Chiefs addressed that weakness by acquiring defensive end Frank Clark and pass rushed Dee Ford while hiring defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Kareem Hunt is gone but he didn’t play in the postseason last year. Tyreke Hill is also no longer here but Mercole Hardman could be a good replacement.
The Jacksonville Jaguars look to improve on a 5-11 2018-19 season which fell below expectations after the team reached the AFC championship game during the 2017-18 season. The offense was their major problem as quarterback Blake Bortles ranked just 30th in quarterback ratings and the team scored an average of 15.3 points per game, 31st in the league. Jacksonville hopes to rectify it this season with the signing of former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles during the offseason. Their defense though, which was their bright spot last season, has taken a toll with the departure of leading tackler Telvin Smith, Malik Jackson, and Tashaun Gipson. However, the Jaguars added linebacker Josh Allen who is among the early favorites to win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Tom Coughlin did enough to tinker his team and his transactions will be put to the test in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Who Wins?
Kansas City is 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played. The Chiefs are 2-2 SU in their last four games played on the road. Jacksonville is 2-8 SU in their last 10 games played. The Jaguars are 1-4 SU in their last five games played at home. Head to head, the Chiefs are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games against the Jaguars. The Chiefs are 2-4 SU in their last six road games against the Jaguars.
Kansas City is 5-2 SU in their last seven games against opponents from the AFC South Division and 15-4 SU in their last 19 games against AFC conference teams. Meanwhile, Jacksonville is 1-13 SU in their last 14 games against opponents from the AFC West Division and 2-7 SU in their last nine games against AFC conference rivals.
It’s going to be a tough assignment for the Jaguars even if they are playing at home. Not only are they the NFL betting underdogs here, but they will also face the best offensive team of last season in the Kansas City Chiefs and the reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes. I think Jacksonville has improved a lot offensively but they still don’t have enough firepower to hang around with Mahomes and company. I’m picking the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars on 9/8/19.
Other Bets To Make
The Chiefs are 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10 games played and Kansas City is 1-2-1 ATS in their last four games on the road. The Jaguars are 2-6-2 ATS in their last 10 games played and Jacksonville is 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games played at home. Head to head, the Chiefs are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Jaguars. Kansas City is also 3-2-1 ATS in their last five road games against Jacksonville.
Chiefs
-3.5 (+110)
Jaguars
+3.5 (-110)
Odds were taken from Titanbet.com as of 7/19/19
Kansas City is 7-0 ATS in their last seven games played in September. On the other hand, Jacksonville is 15-5 ATS in their last 20 Week 1 game played and the Jaguars are also 4-1 ATS in their last five September games played. Both these teams have played historically well against the spread early in the season. Both also struggled against the spread to finish the previous season. But the Chiefs have the Jaguars’ numbers in their head to head match-up and while I appreciate how the Jaguars’ defense has looked the past couple of seasons, I don’t think they can keep up with the Mahomes scoring machine. Prediction: Chiefs -3.5
The total has gone over in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Chiefs. Kansas City has seen the total go over in each of their last four road games played. The total has gone under in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Jaguars. The under is a perfect 5-0 in Jacksonville’s last five games played at home. Head to head, the under is 6-4 in the last 10 games. The under is also 4-2 in the last six meetings between these two teams in Jacksonville.
Chiefs
O 51.5 -110
Jaguars
U 51.5 -110
Odds were taken from Titanbet.com as of 7/19/19
Kansas City was an over machine last season while the opposite can be said of Jacksonville. These teams have averaged a combined 43.6 points per game in their last 10 meetings 35.67 points per game in their last three meetings. Kansas City averaged 34.83 points per game last season while Jacksonville scored only 15.31 per outing during the last term. There is no questioning Mahomes, scoring prowess but these teams haven’t combined to score 50 in their last six meetings in Jacksonville. Prediction: Under 51.5