- The Jacksonville Jaguars begin the regular season against the Miami Dolphins, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
- The Dolphins are favored by three points over the Jaguars, with the game total set at 49.5.
It's time for my Jaguars vs. Dolphins prediction.
Both the Jaguars (9-8) and Dolphins (11-6) will look to take a step forward this season. Jacksonville faltered late last season and lost the AFC South, while Miami once again couldn't win a big game in the playoffs.
Trevor Lawrence has new playmakers in Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis, but can they keep up with Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, De'Von Achane and the Dolphins?
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins Picks
SPREAD
I'm betting the spread for this one, taking the points with the underdog Jaguars.
MONEYLINE
While I think Jacksonville could win this game outright, it's not enough for me to bet the moneyline.
TOTAL
I have no play on the over/under.
Jaguars vs. Dolphins Pick: Jaguars +3.5
Jaguars vs. Dolphins Odds
| Jaguars Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -104 | 49.5 -105o / -115u | +140 |
| Dolphins Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -118 | 49.5 -105o / -115u | -166 |
- Jaguars vs. Dolphins Point Spread: Jaguars +3 | Dolphins -3
- Jaguars vs. Dolphins Total: Over/Under 49.5
- Jaguars vs. Dolphins Moneyline: Jaguars +140 | Dolphins -166
- 54% of bets and 52% of the money are on the Jaguars to cover the spread.
- 78% of bets and 87% of the money are on the over.
- 94% of bets and 92% of the money on the moneyline are on the Dolphins to win.
How To Watch Jacksonville vs. Miami
| Location: | Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla. |
| Date: | Sunday, Sept. 8 |
| Kickoff Time: | 1 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | CBS |
Dolphins vs. Jaguars is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET live from Miami on Sunday. The game is live on CBS and other streaming platforms, such as YouTube TV.
NFL Weather Week 1 for Sunday's Game
How To Make NFL Picks for Jaguars vs. Dolphins
I think the Jaguars are being undervalued in this spot.
Jacksonville got really unlucky last year. Trevor Lawrence, I believe, is a lot better than his numbers showed. He's had the most drops over his first three seasons of any quarterback in the NFL with a lot of unlucky things happening in the red zone.
Christian Kirk outplayed expectations last year when healthy while tight end Evan Engram proved to be a beast. Travis Etienne can be used all across the field, and the Jaguars' offensive line blocking for him dealt with a lot of injuries last season and should be better. Adding Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis, a great run blocker, should also help replace Calvin Ridley.
Miami has the flashier skill-position guys, but Jacksonville has a solid group that will make plays for Lawrence.
Defensively, Jacksonville has always left you wanting more, but I think that unit has enough pieces. The Jaguars added some key veteran pieces during the offseason that won't completely stop the Dolphins but will be savvy enough to cause trouble.
While I think Jacksonville will be better than last season, Miami is pretty similar to what it was. When the Dolphins play quality teams like this, the narrative is Miami can't beat great competition. If they win, however, it's usually a close game. The Dolphins beat the Chargers by two points in Week 1 last season then only beat Dallas by two later in the year.
Miami laying 3.5 at home is just too much. I could understand a field goal a little more, but I'd still be on the Jaguars if I had to pick a side. You're just begging me to take Jacksonville at 3.5, though, so I will.
I wouldn't be surprised if the 'Jags win this game outright. It will come down to whether they can limit Tyreek Hill's explosive plays to only a couple instead of four. Overall, though, I think these teams are too evenly matched for Miami to be laying more than a field goal.
This is just a play on the number for me. I make this closer to Dolphins -2.5. These are similar teams, so it really comes down to home-field for the Dolphins, and that's not really significant since both teams play in Florida.
Pick: Jaguars +3.5
