2024 Jacksonville Jaguars Odds & Preview: Trevor Lawrence Needs To Bounce Back

The Jaguars were unable to reclaim their AFC South title last season, finishing one game behind the Texans and missing out on the playoffs because of tiebreakers.

Trevor Lawrence was unable to take another step forward last season, and his turnovers proved costly throughout the season. Jacksonville will need him to step up and improve if it's to return to the postseason.

Here's what you need to know about the 2024 Jaguars.

2024 Jaguars Odds

Odds via FanDuel and as of Aug. 2.

2023 Jaguars Betting Records

• 9-8 against the spread (+1% ROI)
• 8-9 to the over (-10.2% ROI)

Past Jaguars Win Totals

Important Jaguars Betting Stats

The Jaguars quarterback room is full of quarterbacks to fade. Lawrence is 23-29 against the spread in his career, while Mac Jones is 16-26-1. Even C.J. Boatyard is 6-7.

Meanwhile on the sidelines, Doug Pederson is 62-60 in his career between his head-coaching stints in Philadelphia and Jacksonville.

Jaguars' Fate Depends on Lawrence

Any success for the 2024 Jaguars will come down to Lawrence.

In 2022, Lawrence finished seventh among NFL quarterbacks in EPA per play and led Jacksonville to the AFC South championship. It looked like he had taken a step forward and arrived as a high-quality NFL passer.

Then, last season happened. The Jaguars went 9-8, as they did in 2022, but showed little progression and missed the playoffs.

Lawrence threw 14 interceptions last season and saw his completion percentage, yardage and touchdowns thrown all go down. He also fumbled 12 times.

Also, Lawrence will be without 1,000-yard receiver Calvin Ridley, who surprisingly signed with the Titans in free agency. Running back Travis Etienne is back, as is reliable wide receiver Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram. Jacksonville also used its first-round pick on WR Brian Thomas out of LSU.

Action Network’s Chris Raybon believes that Lawrence performed better last season than his and the team’s success would suggest. Lawrence did average more yards per completion and yards per game, and he also registered the same QBR as he did in 2022.

Jacksonville will need Kirk to stay healthy and not miss as many games as he did last season (five), and it will need Lawrence to develop strong chemistry early on with Thomas and free-agent acquisition Gabe Davis, who joined from the Bills. Those are two potential deep threats who could make a big impact on the Jacksonville offense.

There is optimism for Lawrence, who will have another season in Doug Pederson’s offense and is playing in a division that looks competitive. The Texans broke out last season, but both Jacksonville and Indianapolis won nine games and narrowly missed the playoffs.

If the Jaguars have any hopes of returning to the playoffs, it will require Lawrence to play at a higher level than last season.

How To Back the Jaguars This Season

If you believe in Lawrence and that adding Davis and Thomas will offset the loss of Ridley, the Jaguars could be a trendy pick to win the AFC South.

Houston is an overwhelming favorite at almost even money (+105, FanDuel), and the Jaguars look like a potentially good pick at +270. Again, though, it comes down to what you think of Lawrence and his 2024 outlook.

2024 Jaguars Schedule Info

According to Action Network’s Sean Koerner, the Jaguars will face the eighth-toughest schedule in the NFL in 2024.

The Jaguars open the season with games against four AFC playoff teams from last season: the Dolphins, Browns, Bills and Texans, three of which are on the road. After that, they get the Packers (Week 8), Eagles (Week 9) and Lions (Week 11).

Jacksonville's Week 1 Odds & Matchup

The Jaguars will open the season with an intrastate matchup against the Dolphins in Miami. Jacksonville is a 3.5-point underdog, and the 49.5-point game total is the second highest of the week behind Rams-Lions.