Titans-Saints
Time: NOON CT
Spread: NO -7.5
Total: 49.5
Betting Odds c/o Bovada
Marcus Mariota could not return a second too soon with the Tennessee Titans rolling with a still-career-winless Zach Mettenberger. He threw 22 of 31 for 171 yards with an INT last week, and it has been clear it would not be a winning situation until Mariota returned. Even so, the Titans are 7.5-point underdogs as it travels to New Orleans in a game to air at NOON ET on CBS.
The Titans fired their HC Ken Whisenhut. Mike Mularkey will take over the team. Tennessee is 3-20 in the last 23 games and Mularkey has a career 16-32 record with Buffalo and Jacksonville. Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said “We have expected more progress on the field, and I felt it was time to move in a different direction.” Rumors have gone around that the team may be sold, but even with that looming the team will try to get some wins under Mularkey.
Tennessee ranks No 31 in scoring (17.9 points), and averages just 309.9 yards per game. No RBs average more than 40.4 yards per game, and rookie David Cobb is questionable with a calf injury. Kendall Wright is sitting out with a MCL injury in his left knee. He leads the team in TD receptions (three) and is No. 2 in total receptions (28) with 343 yards on the year.
Mariota threw four first-half TDs in his debut against Tampa Bay but the knee injury set both he and the Titans back. The Titans managed just 13 points in two games with Mettenberger, who is clearly a borderline player in the NFL. Mariota has the chance to make this a winning football team again.
The 4-4 Saints have recorded 12 of 19 sacks in the three-game winning streak it is now riding. The defense has turned up, and it has resulted in ‘Ws.’ Drew Brees is coming off a 505 yard passing effort and is clicking like Brees can at his best. He threw eight TDs in the first six games, but over the last three the Saints have averaged 36.7 points per game.
The Titans rank No. 29 against the pass and allowed 300 yards passing for the fifth time this season, so Brees could exploit Tennessee in the air. Brees went 36 of 47 for 337 yards with two TDs when New Orleans defeated Tennessee in Dec of 2011.
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| Tennessee | Titans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games on fieldturf. Under is 6-0 in Titans last 6 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Titans are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. |
| New Orleans | Saints are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games on fieldturf. Saints are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Saints are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a losing record. |
