Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5), Total 37 |
Tennessee finished the 2011 preseason with a 3-1 record after picking up a resounding 32-9 win over the New Orleans Saints. The Titans played the entire exhibition season without star running back Chris Johnson in the backfield.
Johnson is now back, with a new contract in tow, as he’s rushed for 4,598 yards in his first three seasons. His career rushing average of 4.97 yards per carry ranks seventh in NFL history.
“We haven’t been to the playoffs in two years, so I want to get back to the playoffs,” Johnson commented once back in the team’s facility. “I’ve got a lot of team goals, and I always got that goal to rush for 2,000 yards again.”
The Titans begin life under new head coach Mike Munchak, who takes over for Jeff Fisher. He should be very happy with the defensive unit coming into the season, leading all teams during preseason play by giving up just 10.5 points per contest.
Matt Hasselbeck assumes control of the offense at the quarterback position, as the 13-year veteran left Seattle and completed 26-of-42 passes for 301 yards during preseason action.
Tennessee is 7-8 ATS as an underdog the past two years and the ‘over’ has a slight 8-7 advantage in those betting prediction contests.
Jacksonville made one of the more surprising moves during the week leading up to the regular season, releasing last year’s starting quarterback David Garrard. He was 39-37 as a starter and it was simply a money-saving move with $9 million due to him this year.
“I don’t like the idea that the timing went down the way it did, but it did,” said Jaguars long-time head coach Jack Del Rio. “Ultimately as an organization we’ve got to make decisions.”
The starting job has landed in the lap of journeyman Luke McCown, but all eyes will be on first-round draft pick Blain Gabbert as the season wears on.
Luckily for fans, running back Maurice Jones-Drew is in the backfield, as he rushed for 1,324 yards a year ago, but is also coming off extensive right knee surgery. He also hasn’t had much luck against Sunday’s opponent when playing in the Sunshine State, gaining 225 yards in five home games in the series.
NFL betting players will find that the Jaguars are 13-9 ATS as home favorites of three points or less, while the ‘over’ is 12-11 in those games.
