There comes a time when every team in the league needs to decide whether to stick with their current roster or clean house and make wholesale changes. Those moves very often come when a team goes through a coaching change, but it also sometimes happens when a natural changing of the guard occurs, which is very often at the QB position. The reality of the NFL is that no team can win consistently without a quality QB at the helm. Look at the teams that have won the Super Bowl over the past decade or so and you will see that the winning team was led by QB’s who are all likely to end up in the Hall of Fame.
We are going to see a lot of changes on the field this season, but perhaps no bigger than with these two teams, both of whom have committed to making a QB change. We are probably not going to see much from the two starting QB’s in this one, but it will be interesting to follow both of these teams through the preseason. It is the Ravens who are in as a 4-point home favorite for this one, with the point total set at 34.
Jaguars vs Ravens 2019 NFL Preseason Week 1 Odds, Preview & Pick
- When: Thursday, August 8 at 7:30 PM EST
- Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
- TV: None
- Radio: Jacksonville / Baltimore
- Live Stream: NFL Network
- NFL Preseason Week 1 Odds: TBA
Why bet on the Jacksonville Jaguars?
It’s easy to forget that the Jacksonville Jaguars were just one defensive play away from appearing in the Super Bowl a couple of seasons ago, especially after they followed that season up with a 5-11 showing in 2018. The fall guy for last season was QB Blake Bortles, who was shipped out to make space for Nick Foles, a guy who rose to prominence by leading the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl in the 2017 season.
If the Jags can rediscover their killer defense of a couple of seasons ago and get production from Foles and Fournette, this could be a big season. As far as preseason goes, the Jaguars have been a very good bet away from home, covering the spread in each of the last 5 preseason road games.
Why bet on the Baltimore Ravens?
The QB change in Baltimore is not that unexpected, as the trigger was essentially pulled last season, with Joe Flacco benched in favor of rookie QB Lamar Jackson. It will be Jackson who leads the way this year after helping the Ravens win the AFC North, but will his scrambling style continue to work, or will it be snuffed out by teams who now have a ton of his film to study.
The biggest change for the Ravens this season is on the defensive side of the football, though, as we have seen a bit of an offseason overhaul. This team is going to look very different in 2019, so it’ll be interesting to get our first look on Thursday. The Ravens were 6-2 at home last season, so definitely a worthy favorite in this one.
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction for Jaguars vs Ravens
It is never easy to come out and make an accurate prediction in these preseason games, especially in the opening week when we will be watching guys who won’t be on the roster in a couple of weeks. That aside, you have to like the Ravens at home.
Jacksonville Jaguars 7 Baltimore Ravens 24
