To conclude the 2018 regular season, the Titans (+2.5) are preparing to host the Indianapolis Colts (-2.5) in Tennessee. The important Sunday Night matchup kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to NBC.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans Betting Preview
In this Sunday AFC game, Indianapolis is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 2.5 points. The Colts are also receiving -140 moneyline odds while the Titans are +120. Should one side can catch a lucky break early it will result in a worthy betting opportunity in-game. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 44 points.
The game’s O/U has been driven lower after originally being set at 45. The opening line has stayed firm.
Each team has been profitable this season as the Colts have gained 3.5 units and the Titans are up 5.8 units.
The Colts are 9-6 straight up (SU), including 3-2 SU against AFC South opponents. The Titans are 9-6 SU overall and also 3-2 SU versus divisional foes.
The Colts look to keep it rolling after a 28-27 win over the Giants last week. The Colts secondary allowed the Giants to air it out for 309 yards. On the offense, Andrew Luck completed 31 passes for 357 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Marlon Mack (34 rushing yards on 12 attempts, one TD) led the ground attack. Chester Rogers (seven receptions, 54 yards, one TD) and T.Y. Hilton (seven catches, 138 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Tennessee enters this one having just earned a 25-16 win over Washington in Week 16. As a group, the Titans collectively completed 17-of-25 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown. Marcus Mariota went 10-for-13 for 110 yards while Blaine Gabbert was seven-of-11 for 101 yards and one touchdown. Derrick Henry (84 yards on 21 rush attempts, one TD) mounted the running game as Darius Jennings (three receptions, 29 yards) and Taywan Taylor (three catches, 64 yards) led the receiving corps in the win.
Indianapolis has run the ball on 37.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Tennessee has an overall rush percentage of 51.8 percent. The Colts have produced 104 rush yards/game (including 63 per game against South opponents) and have 12 scores on the ground this year. The Titans are averaging 129 rush yards per game (141 in conference) and have 15 total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Colts could own an advantage when it comes to quarterback protection, as their offensive line has given up just 56 sacks while their D-line registered 25 sacks. The Titans O-line has allowed 35 sacks and their defense has generated only 43 sacks.
The Colts offense has averaged 287 yards in the air overall (338 per game against conference opposition) and has 36 passing scores so far. The Titans have put up 206 pass yards per outing (193.4 in the AFC) and have 15 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Indianapolis has allowed opponents to run for an average of 102 yards and pass for 258 yards per game. The Tennessee D has allowed 228.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 113.7 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Colts have given up an ANY/A of 6.27 to opposing QBs, while the Titans are allowing an ANY/A of 5.79.
Offensively, Luck is already up to 4,116 passing yards this year, and has completed 68 percent of his 577 attempts with 36 scores through the air and 14 interceptions. He has a 6.87 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.20 over the last two outings.
The Colts have tried to control the clock by pounding the defense with their running backs. In addition to wideout T.Y. Hilton (1,124 receiving yards and six touchdowns), Marlon Mack (650 rush yards, six rush TDs, one receiving TD) and Nyheim Hines (291 rush yards, two rush TDs, 355 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) have brought significant production to the Indianapolis offensive scheme.
For the home team, Marcus Mariota has completed 216-of-311 passes for 2,440 yards, 11 TDs and eight INTs. Mariota’s ANY/A stands at 5.87 for the season and 4.86 over his past two outings.
The Titans should also look to control the clock by turning to their backfield. In addition to Derrick Henry (86 receiving yards), Taywan Taylor (441 receiving yards and one receiving TD) and Corey Davis (55 rush yards, 810 receiving yards, four TDs) have gotten plenty of looks lately.
RELATED: Week 17 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: Colts at Titans
SU Winner – Colts, ATS Winner – Titans, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Over/Under for Indianapolis’ last game was set at 48.5. The over cashed in the team’s 28-27 victory over the Giants.
As a team, Indianapolis has produced 3.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.1 over its last two.
Tennessee has averaged 5.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.4 over its past two.
Tennessee has lost five fumbles this season while Indianapolis has lost eight.
Over its last three matchups, Indianapolis is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Indianapolis has won nine of its last 10 games SU, with a six-point defeat to Jacksonville on December 2nd representing the only loss over that stretch.
The O/U for Tennessee’s last match was 38. The over cashed in that 25-16 victory over Washington.
In its last three games, Tennessee is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Colts have made 15 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Titans have accounted for 10 such plays.
The Indianapolis defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Tennessee has given up six such plays.
Both defenses have produced eight rushing plays of 20+ yards. The Indianapolis offense has recorded 39 running plays of 10+ yards while Tennessee has accounted for 57 such plays.
The Colts defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Titans have given up six such runs.
Each team defense has created 38 sacks this year.
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