NFL
NFL week 10 preview: Jaguars to make statement with win over 49ers
In a week that sees the NFL once again going global, all the stars will be on show and there is bound to be some exciting action form across the divisions.
The pick of the action comes firstly from Germany as the Indianapolis Colts take on the New England Patriots in Frankfurt. The other key matchup is just a 12-hour flight away in Jacksonville as the Jaguars take on the San Francisco 49ers.
We preview both games below.
Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots, Sunday 14:30
After four thrilling games across both England and Germany, the NFL brings the curtain down on its international series for this season as the Colts take on the Patriots in the fifth and final overseas matchup.
Almost two weeks ago things were not looking good for the Colts as they suffered a third successive defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. They got themselves back on track last week with a 27-13 win over the Carolina Panthers and subsequently are 10/13 favourites for this game.
The Patriots are a franchise made for the big occasions, winning six Super Bowls and having countless big-game players throughout the years. This season has not been vintage Patriots and their record of two wins and seven losses emphasises that.
It will be interesting to see how head coach Bill Belichick responds to the rumours around his departure from the Patriots, and that is something which will be sure to fire him up.
He may look to running back Rhamondre Stevenson once again this week after he scored his third touchdown of the season in their last match, and he leads the charge for the Patriots at 11/8 to secure his fourth touchdown of the season here.
San Francisco 49ers @ Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday 18:00
Jacksonville is the venue for what, on paper, is the feature game of week 10 in the NFL as two top sides in the Jaguars and the 49ers go toe-to-toe.
The 49ers head to Jacksonville with a solid record of five wins and three losses, but that doesn’t tell the full story. They were 5-0 but three consecutive losses in the second half of October has seen their season take a somewhat downward spiral.
The 49ers head into this game having had a rest last week, a break which will have been much welcomed by those seeking to get them out of the rut. They head into this game as 5/8 favourites, but that is based on the assumption that they will magically return to their early season form.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are most definitely the form pick in this matchup. After a slow start to the season, winning just one of their first three games, the Jaguars now find themselves on a five-match winning streak and are showing no signs of turning back.
At 7/5, the Jaguars could make a real statement in overturning their underdog status and beating the 49ers here. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is playing incredibly at the moment and if the Jaguars are to win here, most of their good work will likely go through him.
Lawrence threw 292 yards in the Jaguars last outing and we make him a good pick to throw over 242.5 yards in this game at 5/6, along with the Jaguars to win with a +3 point handicap at 10/11.
