News4JAGs picks: Can Jaguars end their slide against favored Texans?

The News4JAX sports staff will offer its predictions on Jaguars games this season on Fridays. (News4JAX)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jaguars season is back and our News4JAX sports staff is back with its predictions as well. Each week, we’ll unveil our predictions for the week’s game. Jacksonville travels to Houston in Week 4 trying to end a three-game losing streak.

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Kyle Ashley

Season record: 1-2.

Well, here we are again. Another week another sad pick. The same thing I said last week still stands, I will not pick the Jaguars for another game this year until they prove me wrong. If you missed Monday night’s game, they didn’t do that. In fact, they looked the worst they have looked all season. I am still somewhat optimistic that the season isn’t quite over but if they don’t turn it around soon, they will be in serious trouble. I do think this could be a winnable game for the Jags, but I just can’t pick them right now with the struggles on offense and the injuries on defense. The Texans should be able to do enough to come away with the win. — Texans 30, Jaguars 21.

Justin Barney

Season record: 1-2.

The Jaguars shouldn’t win this game. They’ve shown no reason to believe that they’re any different than the team that we saw in the collapse last year. But the Jaguars are going to get it figured out at some point. I think this is the week for no other reason besides that they seem to find a win when no one expects it. CJ Stroud and the Texans should win this game. But I think the embarrassment on Monday night and the feeling like the season is slipping away make this a win-or-else moment. In an upset. — Jaguars 20, Texans 17.

Alessandra Pontbriand

Season record: 1-2.

Monday’s blowout to the Bills was so bad that I think it actually will motivate the guys to make sure they never get embarrassed like that again. This is the Jaguars first AFC South opponent of the season, which should also bring more motivation to win because like we’ve heard Doug Pederson say before and based on NFL rules- if you win your division, you earn a playoff spot. So when you think about it like that, the Jaguars still have a chance for a postseason run even at 0-3 right now. Hopefully that brings some positivity into the weekend. The biggest question for the Jaguars will be: are they able to fix all of their issues with a shorter prep week? Frankly, I don’t think they can. The defense will be missing a few starters, so I don’t have confidence they can shut down CJ Stroud and the Texans offense. On the other side of the ball, I don’t have confidence in Trevor Lawrence and the offense to find momentum to create winning drives. — Texans 21, Jaguars 14.

Jamal St. Cyr

Season record: 1-2.

I just can’t do it. I just can’t pick the Jaguars right now. Until this team shows that they can go out on the field and do it they can’t be trusted. I say that knowing that the most Jaguars thing they could do is to go and win this week against the Texans. But I just don’t expect it. I say that knowing that I still think this team has the talent to flip the switch and go on a run, they just need that spark or whatever you want to call it. The thing is will that spark come before it is too late? — Texans 32, Jaguars 20.

Bonus picks from Hard Rock bets:

Brenton Strange: over 23.5

Rams: +3 against the Bears

Breece Hall: under 66.5 rushing yards.


About the Author

Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.

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