Thursday Night Football Betting Preview: Titans at Jaguars
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5, 24.5)
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans have a combined five wins between them, but they both remain in contention for a division title in the landfill known as the AFC South. The Jaguars improved to 3-6 following a stunning last-second win at Baltimore and are a win out of first place entering Thursday night's matchup versus the visiting Titans.
Jacksonville snapped a 13-game road losing streak thanks to blunders by the officiating crew and Ravens defensive end Elvis Dumervil, who was whistled for a facemask penalty as time expired to allow Jason Myers to kick the winning 53-yard field goal. The NFL later admitted that the Jaguars were offsides on the last play and never should have received the chance to attempt the decisive kick. Tennessee is 1-1 under interim coach Mike Mularkey after dropping a 27-10 decision to unbeaten Carolina on Sunday. Mularkey coached the Jaguars in 2012 but was fired after the team went 2-14 in his only season.
TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network.
LINE HISTORY: The Jaguars opened as 3-point favorites and have been bet down slightly to -2.5. The total has also come down, since opening at 43.5 and is currently at 42.5.
INJURY REPORT:
Titans - CB P. Cox (probable Thursday, hamstring), NT S. Hill (probable Thursday, knee), LB D. Morgan (questionable Thursday, shoulder), RB D. Cobb (questionable Thursday, calf), WR K. Wright (out Thursday, knee), DL A. Woods (Out Thursday, ankle), CB B. Wreh-Wilson (out Thursday, hamstring), CB J. McCourty (I-R, groin), WR J. Hunter (I-R, ankle).
Jaguars - RB T. Yeldon (probable Thursday, foot), WR A. Hurns (probable Thursday, abdominal), WR B. Walters (questionable Thursday, concussion), S J. Sample (questionable Thursday, shoulder), LB D. Skuta (questionable Thursday, groin), DT M. Bennett (questionable Thursday, hamstring), RB T. Gerhart (questionable Thursday, groin), TE N. Jacobs (questionable Thursday, hamstring), RB B. Pierce (doubtful Thursday, Achilles), DT S. Marks (out indefinitely, tricep).
WEATHER REPORT: It could be a sloppy night for football in Jacksonville Thursday night. There is a 66 percent chance of rain at kickoff with temperatures in the high 60's. There will also be a 7-10 mile per hour wind blowing towards the southern end zone.
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Titans (+4.5) - Jaguars (+4) + home field (-3) = Jaguars -3.5
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "The Titans caught Carolina in a terrible scheduling spot last Sunday as the Panthers were playing a non-conference game sandwiched between four important home games. However, despite the solid scheduling situation, the Titans still lost 27-10. Now Tennessee finds themselves in the poor scheduling spot as they must travel and play on the road with just three days of rest."
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "Another small decision for shop Thursday, as 53 percent of cash & 54 percent of bets backing the Jags. Since the decision is so small, we expect Jacksonville to remain -3 at kickoff, as they have all week." Mike Jerome, TopBet.eu.
ABOUT THE TITANS (2-7, 4-5 ATS, 5-4 O/U): Quarterback Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft who set an NFL rookie record for the most touchdown passes through eight games (13), lost another starting wide receiver as Justin Hunter suffered a fractured ankle in Sunday's loss. Rookie running back David Cobb could make his season debut for a ground game in need of a spark after managing only 64 yards on 21 rushes versus the Panthers. The Titans are fifth in the league with 27 sacks and have permitted the third-fewest passing yards (213.8) per game.
ABOUT THE JAGUARS (3-6, 5-4 ATS, 6-3 O/U): Jacksonville and quarterback Blake Bortles received a lift when wideout Allen Hurns was back at practice Tuesday one day after visiting a sports hernia specialist in Philadelphia. Bortles, the third overall pick a year ago, set a franchise record by throwing for at least two TDs in each of his last five games, but he's also been held under 200 yards and failed to complete 50 percent of his passes twice in the past three games. Rookie running back T.J. Yeldon was in a walking boot Monday and missed practice Tuesday but insisted he will play.
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings in Jacksonville.
* Under is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings.
* Titans are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four meetings in Jacksonville.
* Underdog is 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine meetings.
COVERS CONSENSUS:The public is backing Jacksonville in this AFC South showdown, with 62 percent of wagers on the Jaguars. As for the total, bettors think it will be a high scoring affair, with 65 percent of wagers on the over.