Jacksonville at New Orleans Betting Preview/Week 2 NFL Preseason Picks
23 August 2021
Jacksonville won just one game a season ago, but there was some belief that the Jaguars could turn things around in a hurry in 2021. A 23-13 loss to the second-string players of the Cleveland Browns was not what the fans of the Jaguars had in mind.
New Orleans has been one of the best teams in the NFL over the last few years, but there is some worry about the potential this season. The Saints suffered a 17-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, but playing at home should give them a significant boost.
The New Orleans Saints are currently 4.5-point betting favorites, and the over/under is set at 38.5 total points.
Jaguars Are a Fountain of Youth
The Jacksonville Jaguars come into the 2021 season with plenty of new faces, and many of those faces were acquired in the NFL Draft. Jacksonville is not a team that has a ton of experience, and that comes into play in the preseason.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is a betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year this season, but the Jaguars will need him to play at an MVP level. Jacksonville is going to try to run the football with effectiveness this season in an effort to take some pressure off of their future star.
The defense in Jacksonville remains a big question mark, and that unit is facing a tough challenge in this game. Jacksonville has to slow down the Saints' attack if they want to pick up a win.
Saints Playing Without Brees
New Orleans no longer has quarterback Drew Brees on the roster, and that is going to impact the team in a number of ways. Brees put up some monster passing numbers during his time in New Orleans, but he was also the leader of this football team.
The Saints are looking at Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston to lead them at the quarterback position in 2021, and both players should get some time in this game. New Orleans also has running back Alvin Kamara available, and he is nearly impossible to slow down.
The defense in New Orleans should be a strong unit, and that group could take some pressure off of the new quarterbacks by playing well all season.
New Orleans Blows Out Jacksonville
Jacksonville is going to be a much-improved team in 2021, but this team is still going to suffer through some growing pains. The starting unit for the Jaguars has the potential to give New Orleans trouble, but this team just doesn't have a ton of depth.
Even though this is only a preseason game, taking on the Saints in New Orleans is a tough challenge for any team. New Orleans wants to figure things out before they head into the regular season, and this will be a spirited effort from a veteran team.
Take the New Orleans Saints -4.5 as they win this game by double digits, and betting the under 38.5 points is the way to go as well.
Here are all of the NFL Week 2 Preseason picks from Dunkel:
August 19
New England at Philadelphia
Time: 7:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: New England 119.913; Philadelphia 121.549
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 1 ½; 34
Vegas Line & Total: New England by 1 ½; 38 ½
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (+1 ½); Under
August 20
Kansas City at Arizona
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City 122.625; Arizona 116.116
Dunkel Line & Total: Kansas City by 6 ½; 47
Vegas Line & Total: Kansas City by 2 ½; 41
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (-2 ½); Over
Cincinnati at Washington
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 114.676; Washington 122.531
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 8; 31
Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 4 ½; 34 ½
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-4 ½); Under
August 21
Buffalo at Chicago
Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 124.119; Chicago 121.347
Dunkel Line & Total: Buffalo by 3; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 4 ½; 37
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+4 ½); Over
NY Jets at Green Bay
Time: 4:25 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: NY Jets 115.342; Green Bay 119.604
Dunkel Line & Total: Green Bay by 4 ½; 29
Vegas Line & Total: NY Jets by 1 ½; 34
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (+1 ½); Under
Baltimore at Carolina
Time: 7:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore 130.703; Carolina 121.192
Dunkel Line & Total: Baltimore by 9 ½; 32
Vegas Line & Total: Baltimore by 3; 35 ½
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-3); Under
Atlanta at Miami
Time: 7:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 117.715; Miami 115.639
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 2; 31
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 5; 37 ½
Pick: Atlanta (+5); Under
Detroit at Pittsburgh
Time: 7:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 115.185; Pittsburgh 127.181
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 12; 33
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 6 ½; 37 ½
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-6 ½); Under
Tennessee at Tampa Bay
Time: 7:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee 117.949; Tampa Bay 124.480
Dunkel Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 6 ½; 29
Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 2 ½; 37
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-2 ½); Under
Indianapolis at Minnesota
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Indianapolis 121.402; Minnesota 116.336
Dunkel Line & Total: Indianapolis by 5; 40
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 2 ½; 37
Dunkel Pick: Indianapolis (+2 ½); Over
Houston at Dallas
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 113.642; Dallas 123.254
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 9 ½; 32
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 4; 37 ½
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-4); Under
Denver at Seattle
Time: 10:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 128.913; Seattle 119.938
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 9; 32
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 6; 37
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-6); Under
Las Vegas at LA Rams
Time: 10:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Las Vegas 120.695; LA Rams 120.008
Dunkel Line & Total: Las Vegas by 1; 38
Vegas Line & Total: Las Vegas by 7; 35
Dunkel Pick: LA Rams (+7); Over
August 22
NY Giants at Cleveland
Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: NY Giants 122.635; Cleveland 120.972
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Giants by 1 ½; 38
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 6 ½; 35 ½
Dunkel Pick: NY Giants (+6 ½); Over
San Francisco at LA Chargers
Time: 7:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 125.660; LA Chargers 115.240
Dunkel Line & Total: San Francisco by 10 ½; 39
Vegas Line & Total: San Francisco by 4 ½; 34
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-4 ½); Over
August 23
Jacksonville at New Orleans
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Jacksonville 107.002; New Orleans 123.902
Dunkel Line & Total: New Orleans by 17; 33
Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 4 ½; 38 ½
Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (-4 ½); Under
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