NFL Predictions Week 6: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, AFC Handicapping Preview

Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 10/16/11, 1:00 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Pittsburgh -13
Current Betting Line: Pittsburgh -12.5
Opening Total: 38.5
Current Total: 40
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Jaguars Redskins NFL Preview — Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew will need to have a big game Sunday

Jacksonville is certainly up against it today due to losing four consecutive games and now traveling to face the defending AFC champions. “The biggest thing is they have a veteran defense,” commented Jaguars first-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert. “They have guys that have been in that scheme for 10 years.” The rookie out of Missouri has already faced the league’s No. 1 defense this year, dropping a 30-20 contest as one-point home underdogs last week. Jacksonville is 12-16 ATS as an underdog the last two-plus seasons, while the ‘over’ is 15-13 in those contests.

The Jaguars are beat up with injuries on the defensive end, but are expected to welcome back defensive end Aaron Kampman. He hasn’t been in the lineup the past 13 games, but is likely to get after the quarterback for about 20 snaps this afternoon. Offensively, running back Maurice Jones-Drew will need to get after it on the ground, going against a stop unit that is allowing opponents to gain 4.7 yards per rush.

Pittsburgh is sent out as a double-digit favorite for the third time this season and coming off a 38-17 win over the Tennessee Titans as three-point favorites. The Steelers have out-gained three of five opponents this year, with the three games by double digits. Injuries have also been a factor on this franchise’s performance, but players stepped up without the services of linebacker James Harrison and running back Rashard Mendenhall. “People were saying the Pittsburgh Steelers was banged up, and they didn’t have the guys to fill the roles,” stated Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley after last week’s game. Pittsburgh is 19-20 ATS over the last two-plus seasons and the ‘over’ is 22-17 in those games.

The Steelers will be meeting with the Jaguars for the 21st time, trailing 9-11 in the series, including a 5-5 mark in the Steel City. Pittsburgh came away with a 26-21 win in the last meeting on Oct. 5, 2008, covering as five-point road underdogs. Since 2002, the Steelers and Jaguars have played seven times, including the postseason, with each game being decided by 10 points or less, with four of those games being decided by five points or less. Head coach Mike Tomlin will be aiming to improve his record to 7-4 against AFC South opponents. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is searching for his sixth consecutive game with at least 200 yards passing.