Giants-Jaguars odds: Giants 3-point underdogs to Jacksonvill

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Though the New York Giants boast a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Eli Manning , field one of the NFL’s best receivers in Odell Beckham, Jr. and have the highest-drafted running back of the 2018 rookie class in Saquon Barkley, Las Vegas doesn’t think that’s quite enough to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the season opener on Sunday. As of now, the Giants are three point underdogs to the Jaguars according to SBNation and OddsShark.While the Jaguars have long struggled, they and the Giants essentially reversed roles in 2017. Jacksonville ended the year 10-6 and reached the AFC Championship game, with its Super Bowl hopes dashed by the New England Patriots. In contrast, the Giants went 3-13 , the season marred by Beckham’s early-October season-ending ankle injury and a leaky defense.NFL.com analysts remain bullish on the Jaguars this year; of the 21 polled, 13 believe that Jacksonville will come out on top of the AFC South yet again. Meanwhile, the Giants received just two votes to be the NFC East’s leader for 2018 (the 19 remaining went to the reigning Super Bowl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles). Jacksonville’s defense hasn’t changed much since the previous season, when it ranked second in both points and yards allowed, first in passing yards allowed and first in first-downs allowed. But the Giants do have the return of Beckham in their favor, the addition of Barkley to help bring the pressure off of Manning and the passing game and a (hopefully) improved offensive line—all factors that can inhibit Jacksonville’s defensive efficacy. Jacksonville , while in possession of a top-tier run game behind Leonard Fournette, also have myriad questions in its passing game, ranging from the talent level of quarterback Blake Bortles, who the MMQB.com’s Andy Benoit reminds is “not... a natural thrower,” to the lack of key playmakers in the receiving and tight ends groups. Add in the defense’s hidden weakness in run-stopping, and there’s both a reason why the Jaguars are Vegas favorites and why it’s by a mere three points.Giants news, 9/12: Olivier Vernon expected to practice on Wednesday Olivier Vernon , the star linebacker who missed the New York Giants’ season-opening game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars with an ankle injury, will practice on Wednesday. Coach Pat Shurmur dropped that encouraging bit of news during an appearance Tuesday afternoon on WFAN.Vernon is the Giants’ best pass rusher. Without him on Sunday, the Giants only sacked Jaguars’ quarterback Blake Bortles once and Bortles often had ample time to survey the field for open targets.The defense did, however, play well overall. The Jacksonville offense scored just 13 points, none in the second half.More headlinesLegendary former Giant Michael Strahan, a Hall of Famer , said Tuesday that if he were playing today he would have joined players who have knelt for the national anthem. Per the Daily News: Who won the Odell Beckham Jr.-Jalen Ramsey matchup. One film study says that was Ramsey | For The WinLife won’t get easier for beleaguered Giants’ right tackle Ereck Flowers. Demarcus Lawrence of the Dallas Cowboys is the next of many elite pass rushers who will be lining up across from him this season. | NJ Advance MediaVictor Cruz wants to retire as a Giant. And he should, because that’s what he is. He never played a regular-season down for another franchise. | Daily News