Jaguars open as 4-point road favorite vs. Texans

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been sub-.500 this season since October when a 13-6 home loss to the Houston Texans dropped the team to 2-3 on the year.

Nearly three months later, the Jaguars have a chance at a climbing back to .500 with a fourth straight win. Standing in their way are the Texans.

While the Texans won their first meeting and the rematch is in Houston, oddsmakers are unsurprisingly siding with the 7-8 Jaguars against the 2-12-1 Texans. At BetMGM, Jacksonville is a four-point favorite in the Week 17 contest. The scoring total is set at 43.5.

When the Texans came to TIAA Bank Field in October, they were out-gained by the Jaguars 422 total yards to 248. Despite the offensive output, Jacksonville turned the ball over twice and failed to convert any of its three fourth down tries. The Jaguars finished without a touchdown, while the Texans scored a game-winner with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter.

It was the only game this season that saw the Jaguars finished with less than 14 points.

Houston lost nine straight after beating Jacksonville, but snapped that streak Saturday with a 19-14 win over the Tennessee Titans. That victory for the Texans guaranteed that the Jaguars and Titans will play for the AFC South title in Week 18, regardless of Week 17 results.