Titans at Jaguars: Preview, prediction, odds and pick
By John Buhler
The Jacksonville Jaguars will host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon. Here is a game preview, the betting odds, a prediction and a final score pick.
We’ve got potentially a very important game in the AFC South. That’s right the winner between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon will be in first place in the division through Week 2.
It’s a testament to how well Jacksonville played in Week 1 and how horrible the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts were. Kickoff from EverBank Field in Jacksonville will be at 1:00 p.m. ET on September 17. CBS will have the broadcast.
Jacksonville is coming off a huge win over the Texans in Houston. The Jaguars definitely had something working with the pass rush, as Jacksonville sacked the Houston quarterbacks 10 times in Week 1. The offense was largely ground-and-pound with rookie running back Leonard Fournette, but it was very effect against a lackluster Houston team.
Tennessee was never really in their Week 1 game against the Oakland Raiders. The Titans offense struggled to get into the end zone. Their lone touchdown came on a 10-yard scamper by quarterback Marcus Mariota. Tennessee would lose by 10 points at home, albeit to a worthy AFC adversary in the Raiders.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Jacksonville +1.5
Moneylines: Tennessee -125, Jacksonville +105
Over/Under: 44
According to SportsBook Review, the Jaguars will be getting 1.5 points at home from the visiting Titans. The moneylines for this game are Tennessee -125 and Jacksonville +105. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 44 points.
With both of these teams have potentially excellent ground games, we should see both teams put it in the end zone a few times. Expect Jacksonville and Tennessee to each have a pair of rushing touchdowns in this one.
While we could see Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles turn the ball over like he tends to do, ball control seems to be head coach Doug Marrone’s modus operandi with this team. Bortles will have to make a few plays with his arm to beat this Titans team.
What it will come down to more than anything is that Mariota will be able to lead the Titans on a fourth-quarter, game-winning drive and Bortles will fade in the final minutes. Mariota will take over with about three minutes left on the clock. He will get the Titans in position to attempt a game-winning field goal as time expires.
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Ryan Succop will be able to make this big, 40-plus yard kick to beat the Jaguars by three in their place in Week 2. Both teams will have a lot of positive takeaways from this game, but it will be Tennessee that will come out of North Florida with a victory.
Prediction: Titans 27, Jaguars 24