AFC South betting: Will Lawrence, Meyer turn Jags around?

The AFC South is arguably the NFL’s weakest division, with 2 of the league’s worst teams successful the Jaguars and Texans.

“There’s a immense spread betwixt the Titans and Colts and the Jaguars and Texans,” Red Rock Resort sportsbook manager Chuck Esposito said.

Jacksonville hopes to adjacent that spread down No. 1 wide draught prime Trevor Lawrence — 1 of the highest-rated backmost prospects successful league past — and rookie NFL manager Urban Meyer, 1 of the astir palmy assemblage shot coaches of each time.

They’ll effort to resurrect a Jaguars franchise that went 1-15 past play and has lone 1 winning grounds successful the past 13 years.

Las Vegas oddsmakers expect Jacksonville to beryllium vastly improved, with a play triumph full of 6½. But the Jaguars are inactive the 10-1 3rd prime astatine the Westgate SuperBook to triumph the AFC South, down defending part champion Tennessee, the -110 favorite, and Indianapolis, the +125 2nd pick. Houston is simply a 50-1 agelong shot.

“Trevor Lawrence is going to beryllium a existent peculiar player,” SuperBook vice president of hazard Ed Salmons said. “Some of the throws helium tin marque are astonishing and he’s a terrific runner. His moving quality volition alteration the mode teams support him.

“That part surely looks similar it’ll beryllium a coin flip betwixt Indianapolis and Tennessee. Jacksonville volition beryllium a overmuch amended squad than they were past year. But are they acceptable to contend with those two? On paper, I don’t deliberation so.”

The Jaguars are +350 to marque the playoffs and 100-1 to triumph the Super Bowl.

Meyer has won 3 nationalist titles, but Circa sportsbook manager Chris Bennett isn’t convinced he’ll win successful the NFL.

“It’s a large mystery. The feline has ne'er coached successful the NFL. But to me, helium seems similar much of a assemblage manager than an NFL coach,” helium said.

Here’s a speedy glimpse astatine the remainder of the division:

Tennessee Titans

■ Season triumph total: 9½ (o-125)

■ Make playoffs (yes/no): -160/+140

■ Super Bowl odds: 30-1

The Titans went 11-5 past play pursuing 4 consecutive 9-7 finishes. There’s much wealth connected Tennessee, which added wideout Julio Jones, to spell implicit its play triumph full of 9½ astatine the SuperBook than connected immoderate different NFL team.

“They were 1 of the worst teams successful the league connected defence past year. They won with offense,” Salmons said. “Derrick Henry was unbelievable and Ryan Tannehill played existent well. They’ll request to bash that again if they’re going to triumph the division.

“The Titans are what they are. They’ll astir apt vie for the division. But I don’t deliberation they’re a menace to spell to the Super Bowl.”

Indianapolis Colts

■ Season triumph total: 9 (-110)

■ Make playoffs (yes/no): +105/-125

■ Super Bowl odds: 30-1

Wiseguys were precocious connected Indianapolis astatine the Westgate earlier QB Carson Wentz and All-Pro near defender Quenton Nelson were injured successful the preseason. Both are reportedly trending to commencement Sunday’s play opener against the Seahawks.

Wentz was an MVP campaigner for the Eagles successful 2017, erstwhile Colts manager Frank Reich was his violative coordinator, earlier suffering a season-ending genu wounded successful Week 13.

The South Point stands to suffer mid-six figures if Indianapolis, 1 of its largest Super Bowl liabilities, wins it all. But South Point sportsbook manager Chris Andrews doesn’t expect that to happen.

“I’m not excessively brainsick astir the Colts,” helium said. “Even if Wentz is 100 percent, it’s inactive hard to get him backmost to the level helium was astatine 4 years ago. They might. They were beauteous bully past twelvemonth and astir bushed the Bills successful the playoffs. But I’m reasoning that’s a stretch.”

Houston Texans

■ Season triumph total: 4 (u-130)

■ Make playoffs (yes/no): +900/-1,600

■ Super Bowl odds: 500-1

Oddsmakers don’t expect Houston QB Deshaun Watson to play this play portion he’s facing 22 civilian lawsuits accusing him of intersexual misconduct. Tyrod Taylor volition commencement Sunday’s play opener against Jacksonville for the Texans, who person the league’s lowest triumph full and are the +175 favorites astatine Circa Sports to person the astir regular-season losses.

“Obviously, Houston successful that division, that’s the debased barroom of immoderate squad successful the league,” Salmons said. “Deshaun Watson is not going to play a down this year.”

Best bet

Trevor Lawrence to triumph Offensive Rookie of the Year (+350 astatine Circa): Lawrence has dropped to the 2nd prime astatine Circa down Patriots QB Mac Jones (+325) and has 3 coagulated receivers astatine his disposal successful Marvin Jones Jr., DJ Chark Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr.

Contact newsman Todd Dewey astatine tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 connected Twitter.