Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans Odds & Game Pick (2021)

The season’s second meeting between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans is among this Sunday's early NFL games. While a six-game difference separates the two teams from one another in the AFC South Division standings, neither has been playing great football recently. After a lopsided 18-point decision in the first head-to-head matchup, many believe this second meeting could also be ugly. The NFL betting odds have installed the home team as a big favorite ahead of this Jaguars vs. Titans divisional game.

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Details

Opening Lines: Titans -9.5; O/U 46
Current Lines: Titans -8.5; O/U 43.5
Location: Nissan Stadium - Nashville, TN
Start Time: 1 p.m. EDT
TV: CBS
Last Meeting: October 10, 2021 - The Titans defeated the Jaguars 37-19 in Jacksonville.

Overview

The Jaguars come into Sunday's AFC South clash on a four-game losing skid. Jacksonville has fallen back into their losing ways after shocking the Buffalo Bills as 15-point NFL betting underdogs. While a 2-10 record isn't exactly surprising given the massive rebuild that this organization is going through, the Jaguars' inability to even be competitive in two of the last three weeks is worth noting. Last Sunday saw Trevor Lawrence and the offense fail to generate 200 total yards in a 30-point defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. 

On the bright side, the Jaguars have a much easier defensive opponent sitting in front of them this week. The star-studded Rams defense took out a great deal of frustration on an overmatched offensive line and receiving corps. However, the Jaguars did find a good deal of success against the Titans in their first head-to-head matchup this season. Statistically, it was Lawrence's best game of his rookie season to date. If the offensive line can hold up, the Jags should string some drives together. Unfortunately, they might be forced to go without running back James Robinson, easily the team's top skill position player. The second-year pro was a DNP at practice on Thursday as he nurses multiple injuries.

The Titans enter this Week 14 NFL betting contest on the heels of a much-needed bye. After starting the season out 8-2, Mike Vrabel's group suffered ugly losses in back-to-back weeks before the open date. After the lowly Houston Texans won on their home field, Tennessee got stomped by the New England Patriots on the road two weeks ago. The fact that the Pats were nowhere near their best on that day yet still won by 23 points is very telling where the Titans currently stand. Of course, the offense remains without its heart and soul as RB Derrick Henry remains sidelined. That said, the tandem of D'Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard has done quite well in his absence. However, for as bad as the Jaguars are this season, running the football against their defensive front is surprisingly difficult.

For the Titans to get back on track this week, quarterback Ryan Tannehill must play better than he did in the two losses before the bye. One of Tennessee's top two receivers, Julio Jones, is expected to return to the lineup on Sunday. Will that be enough to jumpstart Tannehill against one of the NFL's worst secondaries? This week, the Titans did bolster an injury-plagued linebacking corps by claiming reigning tackles leader Zach Cunningham off of waivers from the Houston Texans. With Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown both practicing in full ahead of Sunday's game, the Titans are the healthiest they have been in some time on defense.

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Trends

• Jaguars are just 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games.
• Each of the Jaguars' last seven games has gone under the total.
• Six of the Titans' last nine games have gone over the total.
• Titans are 7-0 SU in their last seven head-to-head matchups against the Jaguars at home.
• Eight of the last 12 Jaguars vs. Titans head-to-head matchups have gone over the total.

Bottom Line

While the Titans still lead the AFC South Division and have a chance to gain ground this week over the idle Indianapolis Colts, it certainly hasn't been pretty of late. How will Tennessee look coming off of their bye week? Will the rest benefit a team that has not been the same offensively since losing Derrick Henry? Will the return of key contributors on both sides of the ball be enough to hold off the Jaguars in an NFL betting season that has been defined by parity and upsets?

Based on how the Jaguars' offense performed last week, it is tough to trust Trevor Lawrence and Co. to do much of anything. However, it is encouraging that Jacksonville found success early in the first meeting between the teams this season. While the likely absence of James Robinson hurts, Urban Meyer has elected to keep him on the sideline in key spots the past couple of games anyways. Look for the Jaguars' defensive front to show up for this divisional matchup as well. The offense should do enough to keep this one competitive and have the Titans nervous late.

Pick: Jaguars +8.5

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Henry John is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Henry, check out his archive and follow him @HankTimeHenry.