Thursday Night Football heads to Baltimore in Week 9, with the Jacksonville Jaguars visiting the Baltimore Ravens in a matchup between two AFC teams heading in opposite directions. Jacksonville has emerged as one of the conference’s strongest teams, while Baltimore is looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
The Jaguars enter at 5-2 after dominating the Indianapolis Colts 42-7 in Week 8. Jacksonville has now won four of its last five games and sits comfortably atop the AFC South. Baltimore, meanwhile, has dropped to 4-4 following a 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, putting additional pressure on first-year head coach Jesse Minter.
The biggest storyline is Baltimore’s quarterback situation. Lamar Jackson is headed to injured reserve after suffering a thumb injury, while backup Tyler Huntley is also sidelined with a foot injury. That leaves undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano in line to make his first NFL start against a Jacksonville defense that’s been playing excellent football.
The matchup kicks off Thursday, November 5, at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Below, I’ll break down the latest Jaguars vs. Ravens odds and make my TNF predictions for Week 9.
Updated TNF Odds Comparison
All NFL odds referenced for these TNF Week 8 predictions are current as of Wednesday, Nov. 4, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
TNF Implied Score & Team Totals
Jaguars 24.75, Ravens 14.75
Jacksonville is projected to score 24.75 points on the road, while Baltimore carries an implied total of just 14.75. The 10-point difference reflects the Ravens’ quarterback situation, with the 39.5-point total suggesting a relatively low-scoring matchup.
The Jaguars are coming off a dominant 42-7 victory over the Colts, continuing their impressive start to the season. Jacksonville has won four of its last five games, with Trevor Lawrence leading an offense that has been difficult to stop. The Jaguars should have opportunities to move the ball against a Baltimore defense that has struggled during its three-game losing streak.
Baltimore faces a much tougher challenge offensively, with Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley both sidelined. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano is expected to make his first NFL start after struggling against Buffalo in Week 8. The Ravens managed just 10 points in that game, while Fagnano’s inexperience could make it difficult to sustain drives against Jacksonville’s defense.
The 24.75-14.75 implied score suggests Jacksonville should control this matchup, especially with Baltimore dealing with significant quarterback injuries. The Jaguars have the more reliable offense and should benefit from facing an inexperienced starter. However, Baltimore’s defense will need to step up and keep the game competitive if the Ravens hope to avoid their fourth consecutive loss.
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Thursday Night Football Prediction
TNF Score Prediction: Jaguars 24, Ravens 13
I’m backing Jacksonville to win convincingly on Thursday night, largely because of Baltimore’s quarterback situation. The Ravens will be starting undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano with Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley sidelined, putting an inexperienced quarterback in a difficult spot against one of the AFC’s better defenses.
The Jaguars are coming off a dominant 42-7 victory over the Colts, showing just how dangerous they can be when everything clicks. Jacksonville has done an excellent job of creating turnovers and putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which could spell trouble for Fagnano in his first NFL start.
We saw Baltimore struggle badly against Buffalo last week, scoring just 10 points while allowing four sacks and committing three turnovers. I expect Jacksonville to follow a similar defensive approach, putting pressure on Fagnano and forcing him into difficult passing situations. The Ravens could have trouble sustaining drives without Jackson’s ability to make plays with his legs.
On the other side, Trevor Lawrence should have enough opportunities to move the ball against a Baltimore defense that has struggled during its three-game losing streak. I don’t expect a particularly high-scoring game, but Jacksonville should control the tempo and capitalize on Baltimore’s offensive mistakes. The Jaguars are in a much better position offensively, making a comfortable road victory my preferred outcome.
Thursday Night Football Bet Tips
Keep these Thursday Night Football betting tips and trends in mind before making your Jaguars vs. Ravens best bets.
- Jacksonville’s defense has been impressive. The Jaguars are coming off a dominant 42-7 victory over the Colts and have consistently generated pressure and forced turnovers. That’s a difficult matchup for an inexperienced quarterback.
- Baltimore is down to its third-string quarterback. With Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley on injured reserve, undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano is expected to make his first NFL start. He’ll face a tough challenge against Jacksonville’s aggressive defense.
- The Ravens have lost three consecutive games. Baltimore has fallen from 4-1 to 4-4, most recently suffering a 36-10 defeat against Buffalo. The Ravens allowed four sacks and committed three turnovers in that game, raising concerns about their offense heading into Thursday night.
Thursday Night Football Best Bets
TNF Over/Under Pick: Jaguars @ Ravens Under 39.5 Points (-102)
I’m backing the Under in this matchup, largely because of Baltimore’s quarterback situation. With Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley both sidelined, undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano will be forced into his first NFL start against a Jacksonville defense that has been outstanding this season. That’s a difficult spot for an inexperienced quarterback, especially on a short week.
The Jaguars have one of the NFL’s best run defenses, making it difficult for opponents to establish a ground game. That’s particularly concerning for Baltimore, which will likely want to lean heavily on its rushing attack to take pressure off Fagnano. If Jacksonville can shut down the run and force the rookie into obvious passing situations, the Ravens could struggle to sustain drives.
Jacksonville should have more success offensively, especially after scoring 42 points against Indianapolis last week. However, I’m not expecting the Jaguars to play particularly aggressively if they establish an early lead. Baltimore’s offense could have trouble keeping pace, allowing Jacksonville to control possession and keep the clock moving. With the Ravens potentially struggling to reach double digits, I’ll take the Under 39.5 points on Thursday night.
TNF Pick Against the Spread: Jaguars -10 (-108)
I’m backing Jacksonville to cover the 10-point spread on Thursday night, largely because of Baltimore’s quarterback situation. With Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley sidelined, undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano will be making his first NFL start against a Jaguars defense that has been excellent this season. That’s a tough assignment for any quarterback, let alone someone with so little experience.
The Ravens are coming off an ugly 36-10 loss to Buffalo, allowing four sacks and committing three turnovers. Jacksonville has one of the NFL’s best run defenses, which could make things even more difficult for Baltimore. If the Jaguars can shut down the rushing attack and force Fagnano to beat them through the air, there’s a reasonable chance this turns into a blowout.
Jacksonville’s offense is also coming off its best performance of the season, scoring 42 points against Indianapolis. Trevor Lawrence should have opportunities to move the ball against a Ravens defense that has struggled during its three-game losing streak. The Jaguars don’t necessarily need another explosive offensive performance to cover this spread, especially if their defense creates turnovers and gives Lawrence favorable field position.
Laying 10 points on the road is never ideal, but this matchup presents a significant mismatch at quarterback. Baltimore’s offense could have trouble sustaining drives, leaving its defense on the field for extended stretches. I expect Jacksonville to take control early and gradually pull away, making the Jaguars -10 my preferred spread pick for Thursday night.
Thursday Night Football Prop Bet
TNF Prop: Chris Rodriguez Jr. Anytime Touchdown (-105)
I’m backing Chris Rodriguez Jr. to score a touchdown against Baltimore on Thursday night, largely because of the favorable game script I’m expecting for Jacksonville. The Jaguars are 10-point favorites, putting them in a good position to establish their running game and generate plenty of scoring opportunities.
Another factor is Bhayshul Tuten’s injury status. The rookie running back is a game-time decision, which could open the door for Rodriguez to handle additional carries. Even if Tuten plays, Rodriguez could still have opportunities near the goal line, especially if Jacksonville builds an early lead.
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Baltimore’s offense could struggle with undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano making his first NFL start. If the Ravens have trouble sustaining drives, Jacksonville should benefit from favorable field position and additional possessions. That would create more opportunities for Rodriguez to find the end zone.
I expect the Jaguars to control this matchup, with their defense putting Baltimore in difficult situations throughout the game. Jacksonville could lean heavily on its running backs in the second half if it establishes a comfortable lead, making Rodriguez an appealing anytime touchdown option at -105.
Thursday Night Football Parlay
Best TNF Same-Game Parlay (+242)
- Derrick Henry Under 67.5 Rushing Yards (-112)
- Mark Andrews Under 19.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
This same-game parlay focuses on Baltimore’s offensive struggles, with the Ravens facing a difficult matchup against one of the NFL’s best defenses. Jacksonville has been outstanding against the run this season, making Derrick Henry’s Under 67.5 rushing yards an appealing option. The Jaguars are also favored by 10 points, which could force Baltimore to abandon its running game if it falls behind early.
The second leg is Mark Andrews Under 19.5 receiving yards, which I also like given his disappointing production this season. Andrews hasn’t been much of a factor in Baltimore’s passing attack, and things could get even worse with undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano making his first NFL start. I expect the Ravens to struggle moving the ball consistently, limiting Andrews’ opportunities to make an impact.
My biggest concern is Henry breaking off a long run or Andrews benefiting from a few short completions as Fagnano looks for easy throws. However, Jacksonville’s defensive strength and Baltimore’s quarterback situation make both Unders appealing. If the Jaguars control this game as expected, Henry could lose carries in the second half, while Andrews may struggle to generate enough receiving production to clear his modest total.
