Jacksonville Jaguars at Seattle Seahawks - NFL Betting

The Seattle Seahawks will be playing to save their season on Sunday from Qwest Field as they host the resurgent Jacksonville Jaguars with kickoff set for 4:15pm EST on CBS. The game was off the board as NFL betting odds makers await word on the status of Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck’s status is of critical importance because the Seahawks have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they cannot win without him. Last year Seattle finished 4-12 straight up as Hasselbeck missed the season due to injury.

With Hasselbeck in the lineup on opening day this year the Seahawks scored a 28-0 shutout win over the St. Louis Rams and they were being touted as the likely “bounce back team” of 2009. But in their very next NFL betting game at San Francisco, Hasselbeck suffered a rib injury and the Seahawks have not won since. Seattle now has a NFL betting odds record of 1-3 both straight up and against the spread. Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace was not disgraceful in those 3 losses as he compiled an 82.6 quarterback rating but he simply hasn’t brought Hasselbeck’s intangible strengths since taking the job over last season. Seattle’s rushing attack has also been a problem as it ranks 24th in NFL betting and its lack of production has put more pressure on the quarterbacks.

Jim Mora, Jr. is in his first year as Seattle coach and is also looking for an improved defense that currently ranks 17th in NFL betting. Just two weeks ago Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio was rumored to be facing the “firing” squad after the Jaguars started off 0-2. But Jacksonville enters this match-up with 2 consecutive wins and is 3-1 against the spread this year. The Jaguars strength is their rushing attack led by Maurice Jones-Drew, who has 296 yards and a 4.7 yards per carry average with 5 touchdowns. Quarterback David Gerrard has improved his play and has an 89.1 QB rating with 5 touchdowns and just 1 interception. Seattle is hoping Hasselbeck can start as the veteran practiced this week. Mora stated that the team has newfound respect for the way Hasselbeck has tried to get back into the lineup despite intense pain. These two teams have gone over the NFL betting odds total in 4 out of their last 5 matchups.

Bower's NFL Picks: Although you have to give props to Hasselback if he can get into the lineup, I don't think it will be enough. The NFL pick for this week 5 match-up will be to take the Jaguars plus the points on the road to the UNDER in a 2 team parlay. Vegas odds at the MGM Mirage sportsbook have the Seahawks -1.5 favorites in week 5 NFL betting odds against the Jaguars with a total of 44.