NFL Predictions Week 11: Guaranteed Picks, Top Matchups and Odds Guide

Are the Jacksonville Jaguars capable of making a run at a playoff spot?

Logic says this 3-6 team has very little chance of earning a spot in the postseason for the first time since the 2007 season, but logic appears to have completely bypassed the AFC South division.

The Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans are tied for first place with 4-5 records, and the Jaguars are just one game behind.

There's no reason to think either the Colts or Texans will get it turned around any time soon. Andrew Luck is out of action for the Colts with a lacerated kidney and a torn abdominal muscle, while the Texans have quarterback issues of their own and may not be able to go with Brian Hoyer (questionable) as a result of a concussion suffered against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10.

The Jaguars have been making some strides, especially on the offensive side, when Blake Bortles has been finding wideouts Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns with regularity.

The Jaguars have the 16th-rated passing game in the league, and Bortles has a 19-11 TD-interception ratio. When the Jaguars take the field Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans, they will be 2.5-point favorites, according to Odds Shark.

The Jaguars have some momentum after beating the Baltimore Ravens on the road in Week 10. Gus Bradley's team had endured a number of close-call defeats prior to that game, and now it knows what it's like to taste victory. It should have some confidence against the Titans.

Tennessee has been a bit more competitive in splitting two games since Mike Mularkey took over at head coach for Ken Whisenhunt.

The Titans will not be overwhelmed in terms of talent, but the Jaguars have been paying the price by getting closer each week, and they are not going to let an opportunity to show the rest of the league that they are improving slip through their fingers. Look for the Jaguars to win this game by at least a touchdown.

Game	Line	Over/Under	Selection
Tennessee at Jacksonville	Jacksonville -2.5	43	Jacksonville; Under
Indianapolis at Atlanta	Atlanta -5.5	47.5	Indianapolis; Under
St. Louis at Baltimore	Baltimore -1	41	St. Louis; Over
Washington at Carolina	Carolina -8.5	45	Washington; Over
Denver at Chicago	Even	41	Chicago; Under
Oakland at Detroit	Oakland -1	48.5	Oakland; Over
N.Y. Jets at Houston	N.Y. Jets -2.5	42	N.Y. Jets; Under
Dallas at Miami	Even	47.5	Dallas; Over
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia	Philadelphia -5.5	45.5	Philadelphia
Kansas City at San Diego	Kansas City -3	44	Kansas City: Over
Green Bay at Minnesota	Even	44.5	Minnesota: Under
San Francisco at Seattle	Seattle -13.5	40	San Francisco; Under
Cincinnati at Arizona	Arizona -5	48	Arizona
Buffalo at New England	New England -7.5	48	New England

Jets ready to get back on the winning track versus inconsistent Titans

There may be a lot of handicappers out there who believe that Las Vegas is offering a bargain on Sunday, when the underdog Houston Texans take the field at home against the New York Jets.

Many of those handicappers saw the Texans hand the Cincinnati Bengals their first defeat of the year on Monday Night Football. The Houston defense, featuring J.J. Watt, Brian Cushing and Jadeveon Clowney, stepped up and held Andy Dalton and the Bengals to six points. 

Prior to that game, the Texans had been ordinary on defense despite all the individual talent. But a strong showing on Monday night will make many people believe that the Texans have turned the corner.

That may be just what Vegas wants them to believe. Instead, it's much more likely that Houston played one good game.

The Jets have been far more consistent this season than the Texans, and it is much more likely that they will play a 60-minute game than the Texans. Houston has allowed 44 points or more in two games this season, and its defense ranks 24th against the run.

That should play right into the hands of New York running back Chris Ivory, who has enjoyed an impressive season with 643 yards and six touchdowns. More than the numbers, Ivory runs hard on every carry, and he can sap the will out of an opposing defense.

Especially an inconsistent defense like Houston's. The Texans came to play Monday night and were impressive, but it's hard to believe they will come with that kind of effort two weeks in a row.

Vegas Insider has the Jets as 2.5-point favorites. That line should be at least six. The Jets will assert themselves, and the Texans will play from behind throughout the game, and they won't be able to keep it close.

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos and Bears will play old-school defensive football

Peyton Manning is too injured, too beaten up and he just may be too old to play winning football in the NFL anymore.

After a horrific 5-of-20, four-interception performance against the Kansas City Chiefs last week, head coach Gary Kubiak pulled Manning and replaced him with Brock Osweiler. Manning will not play this week against the Chicago Bears, and the Broncos may not be in any rush to get him back in the lineup.

But don't think the Broncos can't win without Manning. They still have the No. 1-ranked defense in the league. While the Bears have been playing better recently and Jay Cutler has been completing passes that he could not in previous years, they are going to find tough sledding against Von Miller and the Denver defense.

Every yard the Bears gain will be hard-fought. The same holds true for the Broncos. Kubiak is not going to ask Osweiler to win the game with his arm. He wants to keep the ball on the ground and avoid turnovers and let the defense dictate the outcome.

This game could be a field-position battle dominated by the punters and the placekickers. The total in this game is listed at 41, but it looks like both teams will end up in the teens. This game will likely see 31 to 35 points on the scoreboard at Soldier Field, so take the under.