Tennessee at Baltimore
Time: 7:15 PM CST (CBS)
Spread: BAL -10.5
Total: 47
Odds c/o 5dimes
The Tennessee Titans had a suprise upset in its Wild Card game, as it knocked off the New England Patriots. However, it finds itsself double-digit underdogs in its second playoff game as the Baltimore Ravens host Tennessee as 10.5-point favorites. NFL oddsmakers at bookmaker 5dimes have set the point total at 47 points, and the game will kick off at 7:15 PM (CST) Saturday on CBS.
TEN, News & notes:
The Titans have won two-straight games including last week’s Wild card game win over New England.
Ryan Tannehill never really got it together in Miami, but he has put together a very strong season with the Titans. He threw 8 of 15 in the win over the Patriots, for 72 passing yards and a touchdown.
Perhaps it served as a wakeup call for the veteran because he has been rock-solid since that defeat. Tannehill is completing 70.3 percent of his passes this year with 2,742 yards and 22 TDs to his six picks. His passer rating is 123.9, and he has been much better than vaunted prospect Marcus Mariota, who may never reach his ultimate “potential” after really struggling this season. The offensive line was finally not fully to blame, Mariota simply made some very bad plays. Tannehill also functions well as a rushing threat. He has attempted just nine rushes but averaged 4.3 yards-per-carry and he has four touchdowns, which trails only Henry (16).
The Titans rank No. 21 in passing yards but are a top-3 rushing team at 138.9 yards per game. The offense overall, too, is solid. Tennessee averages 25.1 points per game while limiting its opponents to just 20.7 per, good for a differential of +4.4 points. Tannehill’s top passing targets have been AJ Brown and Corey Davis. Brown is the leader in yards (1,051), touchdowns (8) and first downs (39). Tight end Jonnu Smith has been featured, but so has backup Delanie Walker. That duo combines for 56 catches and over 600 yards between them, as Tennessee has gotten the most out of its tight ends this season.
Kicking has been a problem for the Titans this season. Between its three placekickers, it has managed to get just 8 of 18 field goals. The best has been Cody Parkey, who is 3 of 3, including a long-kick of 51 yards. Of course, the trio has gone 50 of 52 on PATs, but the field goal kicking has been something of an Achilles heel when the Titans cannot just drive it into the end zone for six.
BAL, news & notes:
Baltimore starting quarterback Lamar Jackson looked as dominant as he did at Louisville during his NCAA career this season, and he may add an NFL MVP trophy to his Heisman hardware. Jackson threw for 3,127 yards on 66.1 percent passing this season with 36 touchdowns to his six interceptions. His passer rating was 113.3 in the regular season, and Jackson also led the team in rushing yards with 1,206. He did this on just 176 attempts, averaging 6.9 yards-per-rush and scoring seven touchdowns (no. 2 on the team). Lead-rusher Mark Ingram carried 202 times for 1,018 yards, but his average trails Jackson at just 5.0 per attempt (which is still obviously quite solid).
Over the last five games, Jackson has topped 10o rushing yards in two of them. He averaged 11.9 yards per carry on eight attempts against the L.A. Raiders, and he rushed eight times for 86 yards against the New York Jets. Jackson is the driving force of Baltimore’s offense, and the Ravens have a staunch defense as usual. It should be able to take care of business against the Titans, but Tennessee already upset New England so complacency should play no role for the Ravens, really.
