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Colts at Titans: Game preview, odds, prediction

By Russell S. Baxter

Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) talks with Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore (23) against the Houston Texans during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) talks with Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore (23) against the Houston Texans during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will the Indianapolis Colts make in 10 consecutive wins over the Tennessee Titans? Mike Mularkey’s club is ready to end a dubious streak.

Are the Indianapolis Colts in real trouble? Opinions vary and it’s still early in the season. And here come the Tennessee Titans, a team that has dropped nine straight games in this series.

Although it’s only Week 7, this is indeed a crucial game for Chuck Pagano’s team. A loss in Nashville would not only drop the Colts to 2-5 but would leave them with a 0-3 record within the AFC South. And that could come back and haunt this squad down the road even if they manage to turn things around.

What about the Titans? They’ve won two straight games for the first time since the final two weeks of the 2013 season. Quarterback Marcus Mariota has thrown six touchdown passes and only one interception in his last two contests while rejuvenated running back DeMarco Murray ranks fourth in the NFL with 526 rushing yards.

The Tennessee wideouts got into the act last week against the Cleveland Browns as Kendall Wright and Rishard Matthews made their presence. It all adds up to a real challenge for a reeling Colts defense that is near the bottom off the league in far too many categories.

Odds

Line: Titans (-2.5)

Over/Under: 48

It is also worth noting that Indianapolis is just 1-4 in its last five games within the division. That’s significant because the Colts had prevailed in their previous 16 matchups within the AFC South. There have been two losses each to the Texans and Jaguars, with the one victory coming against…the Titans.

More fansided.com: NFL Power Rankings Week 7

Back to this encounter. It’s somewhat hard to imagine that last Sunday night’s collapse at Houston isn’t still sticking in the Colts’ crawl a bit. The team had a chance to forge a tie for first place in the AFC South and instead tumbled to fourth, with a pair of divisional losses on their resume. You get the sense that this team isn’t done leaking oil just yet and it adds up to another frustrating loss for Pagano and his club.

Pick: Tennessee 19, Indianapolis 16

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