Week 7 of the NFL season opens with Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football. Running back Travis Etienne is among our prop picks ahead of the week’s first gridiron action.
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Jaguars vs. Saints odds and pick: Jaguars ML (+118 or better)
The Jaguars enter this matchup as 1.5-point road underdogs with favorable moneyline odds. We like the Jags to win this one outright, so moneyline bettors are encouraged to consider the spread as well.
Trevor Lawrence and Co. are riding a three-game winning streak, including a victory over the Buffalo Bills in London.
The Saints, meanwhile, are struggling. Wins are difficult to come by – they dropped two of three – as are points. Sure, they poured in 34 against the floundering Patriots, but only mustered 22 total points in losses to the Buccaneers and Texans.
It’s worth noting that Lawrence enters the game with a questionable tag due to a knee sprain. Head coach Doug Pederson expects him to start, and we maintain enough confidence in Lawrence to lead the Jaguars to a win and cover.
TNF Jaguars vs. Saints TD scorer: Travis Etienne (+115 or better)
We mentioned the knee sprain quarterback Trevor Lawrence is dealing with entering the contest. Lawrence may not be a prolific runner, but he’s recorded at least five rushes in four contests. Look for the Jags to make a concerted effort to keep him in the pocket and lean on other skill position players a bit more heavily.
A little less reliance on Lawrence’s feet likely puts more emphasis on running back Travis Etienne – not just between the 20s but in the red zone as well. Etienne has five touchdowns through six games after scoring five all of last season. He also has over 20 touches in five of six games.
Another reason to like Etienne to find the paint is the versatility he provides. He’s capable of capping a short run with a spike or taking an explosive run the distance. The same goes for his ability as a receiver.
