As we review the Jacksonville Jaguars  AFC South Betting Odds for 2008 we know they are a good team and won a playoff game last year.  But they are only 1-8 against Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.  The rest of the league over the past few years 31-11. 

The Jags know they're not going anywhere unless they beat the Colts.  Manning and the Colts have defeated them nine of twelve meetings since 2002, including twice last season.  The Jags are a team on the rise right now.  They took a huge step last year when they won there first playoff game since 1999 and became the first team ever to beat the Steelers twice in the same year in Pittsburgh.  That success earned both coach Jack Del Rio and quarterback David Garrard long-term contract extensions.  The AFC South Betting Odds at Sportsbetting.com currently have the Jacksonville Jaguars 12/1 to win the 2009 Superbowl.

What a huge decisio coach Jack Del Rio made last year in letting go quarterback Byron Leftwich and making QB David Garrard the starter.  It paid of for him big time last year.  Del Rio let go Leftwich 7 days before the 2007 season, but vice president Harris, didn't approve at all of making this move.  Del Rio then went to owner Wayne Weaver to get the approval to make the move.  Garrard showed everyone he was ready for the move, taking them to a playoff victory.  David Garrard spent 4 years on the bench as a backup QB to Leftwich, he was the seventh pick in the 2003 draft.  The preseason meant a lot to Del Rio last season as Garrard outplayed Leftwich in training camp and preseason games to win the starting job.  He should be even better this year being is second year as the starter.  The AFC South Betting Odds at Sportsbetting.com currently have the Jacksonville Jaguars 2/1 to win 2008/09 AFC South Division. 

Jacksonville has one of the best 1-2 running back punches in the NFL with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones Drew.  Taylor rushed for 1,202 yards last year, and is now ranked 17th on the all-time rushing list.  Taylor is now 32, but that doesn't seem to be a problem as he has shown no signs of slowing down.  He finally got to his first Pro Bowl last year, and that is real surprising.  Drew added 768 yard rushing last season, and the Jaguars ranked second in the league in rushing.  Drew has charisma and is becoming the face of the team. 

Huge key addition to the team is wide receiver Jerry Porter.  The Jacksonville Jaguars, who have been searching for a No. 1 wide receiver since Jimmy Smith retired, reached a contract agreement in February with Jerry Porter, one of the top wide receivers in the unrestricted free agent market.  Porter, 29, was expected to sign a six-year, $30 million contract.  He played the first eight years of his career with the Oakland Raiders.  In Jacksonville they hear all the time "comradery" in the locker room.  Compare that to what it has been like in Oakland the last 5 years.  You would have a bad attitude too. 

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