Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season features a showdown between Florida teams as the Miami Dolphins welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars to Hard Rock Stadium.

The Fins and their explosive offense went 11-6 in the 2023 regular season then lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card round. The Jags, meanwhile, are looking to seal a postseason return after missing out in the AFC South last time despite a positive 9-8 record.

Miami's playoff charge was built on a 7-1 record at Hard Rock Stadium and with no major changes to the offense, it's no surprise to see the Fins made three-point favorites.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins betting picks and predictions

Miami Dolphins -3.0 (-120)

If they are to realize their NFL Championship ambitions, the Miami Dolphins have to improve on the road. For now, they are difficult to oppose at Hard Rock Stadium and can start the season by covering the spread against the Jags.

Star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle did not feature for the Fins in the preseason but coach Mike McDaniel has suggested that both are ready to go after minor injuries, so Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa looks set to have his top two targets to aim at on Sunday.

The Dolphins averaged a monstrous 31.89 points at home last season as Hill and Waddle dovetailed with a high-quality rushing attack built around speedster Raheem Mostert and rookie De'Von Achane, who are both back for 2024.

It's on defense, however, where Miami needed to improve and they have taken steps to address those deficiencies by appointing highly-touted defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who drew rave reviews from his players in training camp.

If the Fins have indeed made the leap on the defensive front, their NFL rivals will need to watch out, starting with the Jags in this season opener.

Jacksonville has undeniable offensive talent on the roster but 2021 No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence has yet to deliver on his potential. The loss of Calvin Ridley is a blow for the Duval County team, who have recruited Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay to work alongside Christian Kirk at wide receiver.

Like Miami, they have also added some key defensive pieces, primarily to address issues against the pass, with cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage brought in as well as defensive end Arik Armstead.

Head coach Doug Pederson has been bullish in the press in the run-up to the season. 

However, it's no easy task to keep the Dolphins quiet - particularly at the Hard Rock - and the Jags' new-look offense may need time to gel, which suggests the Dolphins should cover the spread.

Raheem Mostert to score a touchdown (+105)

All the preseason talk has been about Achane after the running back averaged 7.8 yards per carry in his rookie season but Mostert became Miami's go-to back in the red zone and he looks worth a wager in the anytime touchdown scorer market.

At 32, Mostert is on the older end of the running back spectrum but, despite his injury history, there is no reason his productivity will decrease dramatically after he produced the best season of his career in 2023.

The former 49er rushed for 1,012 yards last year, added another 175 yards through the air, and was a constant touchdown threat with 21 total touchdowns as the Fins made the playoffs.

The Jags were solid against the run last season but, with the focus on covering Hill and Waddle, that should create space for Mostert, who scored 14 touchdowns at home last season, failing to do so in just one game.

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Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins odds

Jacksonville Jaguars	-170 ML
Miami Dolphins	+145 ML
Spread	MIA Dolphins -3.0
Total Points	O/U 49.0

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins player props

Anytime Touchdown Scorer

Tyreek Hill (MIA Dolphins)	-150
Raheem Mostert (MIA Dolphins)	-105
De'Von Achane (MIA Dolphins)	+105
Travis Etienne (JAX Jaguars)	+110
Jaylen Waddle (MIA Dolphins)	+150
Christian Kirk (JAX Jaguars)	+187

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.