In a week when both teams had a chance to prove they are contenders in the weak AFC South, both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans failed to measure up. The Jags took a beating at the hands of the Raiders and the Titans can’t seem to break the spell the Colts have over them. Following another ugly loss, the pressure is squarely on Gus Bradley and his Jags to do something positive. If not, we have to start wondering just when the axe will fall on the tenure of the beleaguered coach. The Jaguars and Titans will tussle on Thursday night in Week 8.
Watch this regular season Week 8 matchup live on Thursday, October 27, 2016, at 8:25 p.m. ET at Nissan Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Jacksonville Jaguars +3
Tennessee Titans -3
Over/Under 45.5
Odds Analysis
Tennessee enters this game as the favorite for a third straight week. That’s not necessarily good news for Titans fans since they failed to cover the past two and are just 2-5 ATS this season. That hasn’t prevented the early wagers from coming in on the home team. The Titans have seen 64 percent of the action, which pushed the line a half point to -3. The under is also getting a lot of play with the total dropping a full point soon after hitting the board.
Injury Report
Roy Miller – One of the Jaguars top defensive linemen was lost to an Achilles injury last game and could be out for some time. It’s a blow to a front that has been much improved and could suffer in run defense against the Titans, who own the third-best ground game in the NFL.
Perrish Cox – Tennessee’s starting cornerback was removed from the last game with an apparent concussion. His loss could seriously impair a pass defense that ranks 18th allowing over 250 yards per game. Heck, even Blake Bortles might be able to reach that number against a depleted secondary.
Matchup to Watch
The Jaguars have to be wondering if Bortles is the quarterback to lead the franchise. The stage was set Bortles and the Jags to have a breakout year after he set team records for passing yards and passing touchdowns last season. Unfortunately, the regression has been alarming and the Jags continue to struggle on offense. Bortles threw two more interceptions on Sunday, giving him nine this season, and he has 10 turnovers in six games. And the team has been woeful in the red zone.
Facing the league’s worst defense overall and against the pass, Jacksonville managed just 344 yards of offense – the fewest allowed by the Raiders this season – with Bortles throwing for 246 yards. And the Jags scored one touchdown on four trips inside Oakland’s 20-yard line, settling for two short field goals with Bortles getting picked the other time. The Jags had drives stall at the Raiders 8- and 9-yard lines. There is talent on the field, which makes the ineffectiveness of the downfield passing game a big problem. Bortles isn’t the only reason, but his problems continue and the Jags offense can’t convert.
Free ATS Pick
I was one who bought into the Jaguars preseason hype. The performance of Bortles and the offense last season, along with some nice pickups in free agency and the draft had me believing the Jags were ready to contend in what is a wide-open AFC South. But the team has a black cloud hanging over it and it likely won’t be lifted until Bradley is escorted from his office. The players continue to say the right things, Bradley hasn’t lost the locker room, but the losses continue to mount. The Jags actually look worse this season than last when they won just five games.
With the exception of the last few minutes, the Titans were ready to end their drought against the Colts and put the pressure on the Texans near the top of the division standings. But games last 60 minutes, not 58 and the Titans blew a glorious opportunity. Still, Tennessee looks more like a team that’s on the verge of turning things around and could be in for a big game against the Jaguars. The Titans will push the run game, which will work against a defensive line missing a key piece. But the strategy will keep the score low. Tennessee covers the spread while the team’s cash the under.
NFL Odds: Titans 23, Jaguars 16
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