The Tennessee Titans sneaked into the playoffs by upsetting the Jaguars in their season finale, but it’s not expected to be a long stay. The Kansas City Chiefs will welcome them to Arrowhead Stadium for their matchup in the AFC Wild Card round.
The Chiefs spent time looking like a Super Bowl contender early this season and then a group that didn’t deserve to make the playoffs. They have settled in somewhere in between and should be able to take care of business at home in this one.
The Titans are probably the least talented team in the playoffs and will need to get some breaks in order to have a chance at pulling this upset and advancing to the next round.
This AFC wild card matchup will take place on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at 4:20 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Tennessee Titans +9
Kansas City Chiefs -9
Over/Under 44.5
Odds Analysis
The Titans are listed as nearly double-digit underdogs in this one, which is a big spread for a playoff game. Despite the large spread, the Chiefs are getting the majority of the action, with nearly 60 percent of the action on Kansas City to cover.
The scoring total is middle of the road. The total seems well-pegged as the action is about even on both the “under” and the “over.”
The Chiefs are listed as -450 favorites while the Titans are +351 underdogs.
Injury Report
DeMarco Murray — The Titans’ running back missed Sunday’s game against the Jaguars after suffering a knee injury against the Rams in Week 16. Murray, who reportedly tore his MCL in that game against Los Angeles two weeks ago, is a big part of the Titans’ running game. He has rushed for 659 yards and six touchdowns this season.
Bennie Logan — The Titans’ defensive tackle missed Sunday’s game with a knee injury. It was the first game the 28-year-old had missed all year. He has 52 tackles and 1.5 sacks this year.
De'Anthony Thomas — The Chiefs’ wide receiver will miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg against Denver on Sunday. Thomas left the field on a cart after suffering the injury and it was later revealed that he had broken his tibia. it’s a big loss as he is an electric return man. The 24-year-old will become a free agent this offseason.
Player To Watch
Marcus Mariota — If Tennessee has any chance at pulling this upset, the young quarterback will be a big part of it. Mariota has regressed this season, as he finished the year with 3,232 passing yards and 13 touchdowns against 15 interceptions.
Mariota cannot afford to turn the ball over in this game and put the Tennessee defense in a tough position. He is the former No. 2 overall pick and has talent, but has not delivered all year.
The Chiefs have a tough defense and will undoubtedly be a formidable test. If Mariota’s performance is in line with his numbers this year, the Titans are not going to be able to pull the upset.
Free ATS Pick
The Chiefs aren’t quite at the level of teams like the Patriots or Steelers, but they would nonetheless love to get a shot at one of them in the AFC Divisional Round. This certainly set up well for Kansas City, as a game against a team like the Ravens would have been tougher.
The Chiefs need quarterback Alex Smith to play well and some early points would really put the pressure on Tennessee. Take Kansas City to win this game, but this spread is too high.
While the Titans aren’t really deserving of a playoff spot, Kansas City isn’t exactly a world-beater. Take Tennessee to cover this spread. The “under” is the easy choice on the scoring total.
NFL Odds: Chiefs 24, Titans 16
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