Tennessee Titans NFL Prediction: 2021 Season Betting Odds and Preview
Derrick Henry was the story of Tennessee’s offence in 2020. The dynamic running back set career-highs in rushing yards, carries, yards per carry and rushing touchdowns, on his way to winning Offensive Player of the Year. Most of the Titans’ offence is set to return in 2021 and the defence was aggressively retooled. Has Tennessee done enough to seriously contend in the AFC?
Veteran Additions
RB Brian Hill, WR Julio Jones, WR Josh Reynolds, OT Kendall Lamm, DE Denico Autry, OLB Bud Dupree, CB Janoris Jenkins, CB Kevin Johnson
Notable Draft Picks
CB Caleb Farley, OT Dillon Radunz, LB Monty Rice, CB Elijah Molden, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, DE Rashad Weaver
Offseason Losses
WR Corey Davis, WR Adam Humphries, TE Jonnu Smith, OT Dennis Kelly, DT DaQuan Jones, OLB Jadeveon Clowney, CB Malcolm Butler, CB Adoree Jackson, CB Tye Smith, S Desmond King, S Kenny Vaccaro, K Stephen Gostkowski
Tennessee Titans Acquisitions and Moves
The biggest change to the offence in 2021 is the departure of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who left to become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. There’s familiarity in his replacement, however, as the Titans elected to promote former tight ends coach Todd Downing to replace Smith. Downing inherits a receiving depth that includes Julio Jones, who was acquired in the offseason from the Falcons.
The offensive line will look different after the Titans released offensive tackle Dennis Kelly. There was hope that 2021 second-round pick Dillon Radunz would win the starting right tackle job, but after playing extensively in the preseason, head coach Mike Vrabel still considers Radunz a work in progress. For now, Vrabel still hasn’t named a starter at right tackle, though it’s expected to come down to David Quesenberry, Kendall Lamm, or Ty Sambrailo.
There’s significant change to the defence in 2021. The biggest addition was free agent signee Bud Dupree. The Titans signed the long-time Steeler to a massive five-year contract despite a torn ACL ending his 2020 season early. He hasn’t officially be cleared to start in Week 1, although it’s expected he’ll be ready.
Tennessee used their first pick in the 2021 draft to take cornerback Caleb Farley, though it appears he won’t be starting in Week 1. It was actually the Titans’ third-round pick, Elijah Molden, who impressed more at cornerback in the preseason.
Tennessee Titans 2021 NFL Schedule
The Titans rode an 11-5 record to an AFC South crown last year. This season, Tennessee is slated to have the 13th most difficult schedule based on their opponents’ combined 2020 record.
There’s going to be a concern for how Tennessee’s health holds up thanks to a late-season Week 13 bye. Circle Week’s 6 and 7 as their most difficult games, as they’ll host Buffalo and Kansas City back-to-back. A key part of the Titans winning the division last year was their season sweep of both Jacksonville and Houston. If they want another division title, they’ll likely need to sweep those teams again.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 12 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 19 @ Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 26 vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.
Week 4: Sunday, Nov. 3 @ New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10 @ Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Week 6: Monday, Oct. 18 vs. Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m.
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31 @ Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7 @ Los Angeles Rams, 8:20 p.m.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14 vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21 vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28 @ New England Patriots, 1 p.m.
Week 13: BYE
Week 14: Sunday, Nov. 12 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Week 15: Sunday, November 19 @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.
Week 16: Thursday, Dec. 23 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 p.m.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2 vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.
Week 18: Sunday, Jan. 9 @ Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
Tennessee Titans NFL Betting Odds
Slotted in one of the weaker divisions in the NFL, the Titans are paying -161 to make the playoffs. Their regular season win total sits at 9.5, with the Over and Under at nearly identical numbers. With the extra game this season, I like the Over 9.5 at -116. Tennessee is a -139 favourite to win the AFC South, leading the Colts (+158), Jaguars (+959) and Texans (+2696).
The Titans are tempting to take at +1181 to be surprise outright winners of the AFC conference. The longshot is Tennessee’s +2401 number to win the Super Bowl.
Tennessee Titans 2021 Season Prediction
The Titans are miles ahead of Jacksonville and Houston, so I see the AFC South as a two-horse race between Tennessee and Indy. As good as Tennessee was last year, however, they’re due for some regression. It’s not realistic to expect Henry to set rushing career-highs two years in a row and the defence hasn’t improved enough in my mind. Look for the Titans to finish second in the AFC South with a 10-7 record.