Will Jacksonville Complete a Worst to First Rise in AFC South?
While some of the clinching scenarios around the NFL are a little fuzzy, especially in the AFC due to the suspension of the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo, things are clear in this matchup.
If Jacksonville either wins or ties, the Jaguars win the AFC South Division for the first time since 2017, while Tennessee captures the division with a victory.
The teams are headed in opposite directions. Jacksonville has won four games in a row while Tennessee has lost six straight.
Joshua Dobbs will make his second straight start at quarterback for the Titans while running back Derrick Henry is probable after missing last week’s game due to a hip injury.
Receiver Treylon Burks, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, cornerback Kristian Fulton and offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere are among the Titans players who are questionable.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is questionable with a toe injury. He has carried that same designation in recent weeks but hasn’t missed time. Offensive tackle Brandon Scherff and linebacker Travon Walker are also questionable as is safety Andrew Wingard.
Wednesday Injury Report pic.twitter.com/VwrIB71Y3h
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 4, 2023
The Jaguars (+4000) are tied for 12th in the odds to win the Super Bowl according to the NFL playoff odds while the Titans are well back at +20000.
Let’s check the latest NFL odds, stats, injury reports, and NFL lines for Titans vs Jaguars. We’ve plenty of Vegas NFL odds and NFL week 18 picks for you to consider.
Titans vs Jaguars Betting Lines
Now or Never For Struggling Titans
Getting Henry back should be helpful. However, Henry not only played but he had 121 rushing yards in the loss to Jacksonville earlier this season.
Ryan Tannehill has taken his share of criticism during his time with the Titans. However, Malik Willis has completed 50.8% of his passes and Dobbs 51.3% in place of Tannehill.
Tennessee 28th in scoring, 30th in yards and passing yards and last in the NFL in points scored in the fourth quarter so it remains to be seen what happens if the Titans get behind early..
Tennessee is allowing 80 rushing yards per game. However, keep an eye on Simmons’ status because running between the tackles will be a little different if he can’t play.
The Tennessee Titans are 0-5-1 against the Las Vegas NFL odds in its last six games.
Worst to First?
Since winning the AFC South title in 2017, Jacksonville has finished last in the division four years in a row, winning a total of 15 games. Now the Jaguars are 60 minutes away from a division crown.
There are concerns at the offensive tackle position with Cam Robinson on injured reserve and Scherff questionable.
Jacksonville has won the last three games when Travis Etienne has rushed for more than 100 yards so look for him to be heavily involved in the game plan even though he was limited to 32 yards on 17 carries when the teams met last month. He has 1,108 rushing yards while quarterback Trevor Lawrence needs 99 passing yards to hit the 4,000-yard mark.
Jacksonville has covered against the NFL betting lines in five of its last six games.
Titans vs Jaguars Game Injuries
Titans vs Jaguars Head-to-Head
Jacksonville snapped a five-game losing streak to Tennessee with a 36-22 win on Dec. 11 as Lawrence threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns and Evan Engram had 11 catches for 162 yards and two TDs.
Each of the last four games between the division rivals have been decided by at least 14 points with the road team winning three of those matchups.
Four of the last six games in the series finished over the total.
Tennessee had been favored in each of the last eight games against the Jaguars. However, Jacksonville enters the game as the favorite.
Titans vs Jaguars Game Information
- Game: Titans vs Jaguars
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 7
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville
- How to watch Titans vs Jaguars? ESPN
Titans vs Jaguars Live stream: NFL Game Pass
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Titans vs Jaguars Game Weather Conditions
Temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid-60s at kickoff with the probability of rain under 10% so the weather should not factor into the game’s outcome.
Titans vs Jaguars Prediction
Predicted Score: Jacksonville 27, Tennessee 17
- Worth Betting on the Moneyline?
With the untested Dobbs at quarterback for Tennessee and also questions about the availability of rookie receiver Treylon Burks, it is not a surprise that Tennessee is the underdog.
Jacksonville is playing its best football of the season and with a division title at stake, this is a game that the home fans should be fired up about. Going with the favored Jaguars is the smart play even with a price of -265.
- Worth Betting ATS?
Tennessee is 5-2-1 against the spread on the road this season while the Jaguars have covered in four of the seven home games. With a six-point line, it is possible that the Titans can cover despite of how poorly they have played during the losing streak.
A young Jacksonville is in an unusual situation of having something to play for on the final week of the regular season other than draft position so it will be interesting to see how they handle it.
- Worth Betting on the Totals?
Only two games have lower totals than the 40 for this game. The total opened at 39½ with most of the money coming in on the over. The teams combined for 58 points earlier this season and Jacksonville is in a good place offensively so taking the over would be the best choice.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
