- Jacksonville (4-2) is a 1-point road favorite over the Saints (3-3) on Thursday Night Football
- Dennis Allen has a top-ten defense against the pass and the rush while the Jaguars’ run D ranks No. 3 in the NFL
- Week 7’s matchup kicks off from Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA at 8:15pm ET
Trevor Lawrence banged up his knee in Jacksonville’s 37-20 victory over the Colts on Sunday, but he should be good to go on against the Saints. The Jaguars’ franchise quarterback has his team on a three-game winning streak while New Orleans fell to 3-3 with a loss to Houston in week 6.
Before we check the odds on Thursday Night Football, here’s where you can find the best Super Bowl betting tips and the top betting sites for NFL football in 2023.
Saints vs Jaguars
Jacksonville stacking wins
Trevor Lawrence passed for 181 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 37-20 triumph over the division-rival Colts on Sunday. Travis Etienne added 83 combined yards and two scores, but it was the Jaguars’ defense that ruled the day. They picked off Gardner Minshew three times and forced a fumble on one of three sacks.
After rolling off three-straight wins over the Falcons, Bills and Colts, Jacksonville leads the AFC South with a 4-2 record. While Lawrence is expected to play on Thursday Night Football, make sure to check on the status of his injured knee before placing any bets.
#Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is injured after this play pic.twitter.com/5mnARvk3dD
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 15, 2023
Saints fall to Texans
Derek Carr continues to be the NFL’s worst quarterback inside the red zone. Despite driving inside the Texans’ 30-yard line five times in Sunday’s 20-13 loss, the Saints only registered six points on those possessions. While the 32-year-old passed for 353 yards, he tossed a game-clinching INT in the final 20 seconds.
Alvin Kamara was also incredibly inefficient, with 104 yards on 26 touches. It was a humbling defeat for Dennis Allen’s club, which was coming off a 34-0 blowout win over New England in week 5.
New Orleans vs Jacksonville
New Orleans is a 1-point home underdog on Thursday with the over/under set at just 41 points. Both teams’ defenses have been stout in 2023. The Saints rank fifth in yards allowed (278.3) and points allowed (16.0) per game while ranking in the top-ten in pass defense (5th) and run defense (9th).
Meanwhile, Jacksonville ranks No. 3 in rushing yards (75.3) allowed per game. The Jags have been vulnerable through the air, permitting the second-most passing yards (270.3) in the league through six weeks.
Six weeks into the season, it’s “unacceptable” how many times Derek Carr and his receivers were on the wrong page while passes fell incomplete and drives fell apart.
✍️: https://t.co/2Qb0gd6PVX https://t.co/2Qb0gd6PVX
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 16, 2023
Ugly game on tap?
Expect a few Al Michaels wise cracks on Thursday night. While the legendary broadcaster won’t have to endure another week of Taylor Swift press-box highlights at least, Saints-Jaguars sets up as an ugly game. Dennis Allen presides over one of the NFL’s best defenses and Trevor Lawrence is playing with a bruised knee on a short week.
Similarly, the Jags D should be able to put the clamps on a New Orleans offense that’s averaging just 18.2 points per game – 9th-worst league-wide.
Best Bet
We’re taking the UNDER on 41 points. Assuming Lawrence suits up, we also like the Jaguars to cover (-1) in a low-scoring stinker on Thursday night.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
