Titans vs. Steelers Point Spread: NFL Week 9 Odds, Prediction
The Steelers are 2.5-point favourites on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
This was written before Tuesday afternoon’s NFL Trade Deadline, and it’s very possible the Titans sell off ahead of that because starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill is out injured and the team is really going nowhere. Running back Derrick Henry, a former NFL rushing king, would bring back a nice package and is a free agent after the season. Last week, the Titans may have started the sell off by sending very good starting safety Kevin Byard to Philadelphia for safety Terrell Edmunds plus 2024 fifth- and sixth-round picks.
If Pittsburgh does anything ahead of the deadline, it would be to add. Probably on offence as that group has massively underachieved. Nearly every Steelers fan alive wanted offensive coordinator Matt Canada fired during the recent bye week, but Mike Tomlin stayed the course.
Including playoffs, Pittsburgh is 48-32 against the Titans franchise dating to its Houston Oilers days. The teams last met in 2019 in Pittsburgh, and the Steelers prevailed 19-13. Facing fourth-and-7 at the Pittsburgh 16 in the final seconds, Ryan Tannehill found Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at the 10, but he was stopped just short of a first down. Pittsburgh has won the past four in the series.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans got a glimpse of their possible future Sunday and it looked good. Rookie second-round pick Will Levis made his first NFL start at quarterback with usual starter Ryan Tannehill injured, and Levis threw for four touchdowns in a 28-23 upset victory over Atlanta. He joined former Titan Marcus Mariota and Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton as the only players with four TD passes in his debut. Levis helped the Titans score their most points since 2021 and was just the fifth qualifying player in NFL history to record a passer rating of 130.0 or better in his first NFL game. Needless to say, he’ll start Thursday. Derrick Henry rushed for 101 yards, and DeAndre Hopkins caught four passes for 128 yards and three TDs. Hopkins could be traded by Tuesday. Hopkins increased his career total to 74 touchdown receptions, which ranks fourth in the NFL since he entered the league in 2013. He’s on pace to finish the year with 75 catches for 1,224 yards with seven touchdowns.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers’ offensive woes continued in a 20-10 home loss to Jacksonville on Sunday. Starting QB Kenny Pickett wasn’t playing well before he left late in the first half with a rib injury. Backup Mitch Trubisky threw for 138 yards and a TD in relief but also two crushing interceptions. Obviously it would be tough for Pickett to play on a quick turnaround this week. Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who leads the team in tackles this year, suffered a hamstring injury early in the first quarter and didn’t return. Receiver Diontae Johnson will be looking at a big fine this week after ripping the refs following Sunday’s loss, including saying: “I didn’t like the refs today. They must’ve got paid good today or something. Refs were just killing us the whole game.” Johnson also missed a pass on the first offensive play of the game that would have been at a minimum about a 40-yard gain and maybe a 75-yard TD.
TEN
PIT