Jacksonville Jaguars

Since hitting a low with just five wins in 2003, the Jacksonville Jaguars under coach Jack Del Rio have rebuilt themselves into the main pursuers of the Indianapolis Colts for the top spot in the AFC South and shortening their football betting price accordingly.

Last year Jacksonville went 11-5, beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh in a wild-card game, and gave the undefeated Patriots a good battle before falling in the divisional round. But one problem for Jacksonville was getting swept two games by Indianapolis, and another was not winning enough games to garner home-field advantage in the playoffs. Going into Pittsburgh is difficult enough, but having to play the Colts in Indy, or the Pats in Foxboro, is a tough way to get through the AFC playoff bracket.

Indianapolis has won the South five years in a row; the Jags would love to put an end to that streak now. Jacksonville ranked seventh in the league in total offense last year at 357 YPG, second in rushing at 149 YPG, 12^th in total defense at 314 YPG and 11^th vs. the run at 100 YPG. The Jags also ranked third in the league in average time-of-possession at +4:14 per game, and eighth in total yardage at +43 YPG.

All of which helped the Jaguars go 11-5 vs. the NFL betting lines, third-best in the league. The totals went 11-4-1 in Jags games last year, as they averaged a somewhat surprising 45 points per game.

David Garrard proved himself a very capable pro QB in his first year as the starter, completing 64% of his passes and compiling a nifty 18/3 TD/INT ratio last year. RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew provide Jacksonville with one of the best 1-2 backfield combos in the league. And lacking any real receiving threat, the Jaguars brought in WR Jerry Porter from Oakland over the offseason. The Jags lost a couple of defensive starters from last year, but should remain solid on that side of the ball.

Jacksonville threw some heavy cash around this offseason, extending Garrard, bringing in Porter and CB Drayton Florence, among others. And they traded five draft picks to move up and grab a couple of solid pass-rushing prospects.

Thanks to playing in the best division in the conference, Jacksonville is slated to play – based on last season's W-L records – the third-toughest schedule in the league this year. But it might not be as bad as that, with six games vs. playoff teams of a season ago, which ranks in the middle.

If the Colts stumble this season, and if the Jaguars can get a home game or two in the playoffs, they could win the AFC this year.