Titans at Patriots: Preview, prediction, odds and pick

We’re getting ready to see the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. Which team will prevail in this contest?

It’s safe to say that the odds and well as history are not in favor of the Tennessee Titans this weekend in Foxborough. Of course, that’s not to say that Mike Mularkey’s team doesn’t have a chance against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

Dating back to 2003 and including a playoff meeting that year, Bill Belichick’s team has won six straight in this series between a pair of original AFL franchises. The Pats have outscored Tennessee by a combined 221-96 over that stretch. That includes a 33-16 victory at New England in 2015 in the clubs’ latest meeting.

So why would things be any different this time around? And are these Titans capable of pulling off a memorable upset?

Odds

Line: Patriots (-13)

Over/Under: 47

The Titans are significant underdogs for this divisional matchup, the team’s first visit to this round since 2003. The defending Super Bowl champions opened the week as a 13-point favorite over Mike Mularkey’s club (courtesy of OddsShark). The over/under for this game (47) appears to be tempting considering the Patriots’ ability to put points on the board.

More fansided.com: 2018 NFL Power Rankings: Wild Card edition

The New England Patriots looked primed to make a seventh consecutive appearance in the AFC Championship Game. That’s because the Tennessee Titans have shown flashes on both sides of the football this season but not necessarily in the same game. Hence this has been one of the league’s most inconsistent clubs in 2017. It would not be a surprise to see Mularkey’s ground game give the Pats some early problems. But Belichick and Tom Brady always seem to have the answers when it counts most.

Pick: Patriots 26, Titans 17