Titans vs. Jaguars Point Spread: NFL Week 18 Odds, Prediction
The Jags, in the playoffs for the first time in three years, won their seventh straight game last week in a 23-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Trevor Lawrence threw for 263 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns, as Jacksonville overcame some red zone struggles.
Tennessee will miss the postseason for the fourth straight year, and is looking to avoid posting a second consecutive 3-14 campaign. The Titans came up just short in a 34-26 loss to the New Orleans Saints last week, but Cam Ward threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Jags are one of three teams leading the NFL with an 11-5 record against the spread. Jacksonville is 7-0 ATS during its win streak and is 6-1 ATS as a favourite.
Coach Liam Cohen’s team is 6-2 straight up and against the spread at home, where it has won three straight games.
Tennessee has lost three straight and six of seven to the Jags, including a 25-3 clunker in Nashville last month. The Titans are 1-4 ATS in their last five meetings with Jacksonville.
Both teams are regularly playing to the over, with Tennessee doing so in four of five road contests and the Jags in six of their last nine games.
Tennessee Titans
Tennessee continues to show signs of improvement with Ward making strides under centre. He has thrown two touchdowns in four straight games and cut down considerably on his interceptions.
Ward found 10 different receivers against the Saints, including emerging rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, who both lead the team with four touchdown receptions each this season. Dike was named to the Pro Bowl as a returner.
Tony Pollard rushed for 85 yards against New Orleans, giving him 1,034 on the season. He goes up against the NFL’s top-ranked run defence in Jacksonville, but he did rush for 60 yards on just 10 carries against them in November.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Cohen and the Jags are one of the best stories in the NFL this year, winning at least 12 games after posting a four-win campaign last season. However, the team turned the ball over twice in the red zone against Indy, giving them a league-high six turnovers in such situations this season.
Look for Lawrence and Jacksonville to keep their foot on the gas on Sunday, as the Jags need a win to hold off two-time defending AFC South champion Houston. The Texans have won eight straight, and can clinch the division with a win and a Jaguars loss to Tennessee.
Travis Etienne Jr., Lawrence’s dependable backfield partner dating back to college, surpassed 1,000 yards last week for the third time in four seasons. He was held to 28 yards on 12 carries against the Titans last month.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Titans vs. Jaguars?
Jacksonville’s defence didn’t give Ward and the Titans a chance to breathe last month, and they should do the same with so much on the line on Sunday.
Look for the Jaguars to clinch the division with a dominant 34-13 victory.
TEN
JAC