The quarterbacks for tonight’s contest don’t get near the attention that Minnesota Vikings QB Brett Favre attracts from fans and media, but the Titans, Jaguars and Vikings do have one thing in common: they each boast one of the top-rated feature backs in the game today. Football betting odds
Sportsbook have the line currently set at Tennessee -3 with the Over/Under at 45.5
CJ2 vs. MJD
Chris Johnson came into the week ranked second overall with 485 rushing yards. He would need 151 yards against the Jags to overtake all six backs that jumped ahead of him on Sunday.
Johnson rushed for 125-plus yards in three-of-five games this season including both road games. Tennessee was in Dallas last week and in their second of back-to-back away from home look for HC Fisher to lean on the ground attack. The last time these teams met Johnson rushed for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
Maurice Jones-Drew struggled with the rest of his team in two losses this year, but in the three wins he’s averaged 96 yards on 20-plus carries and now that Garrard has shown improvements, it will open things up for Jones-Drew.
It’s also worth keeping an eye on Jags rookie RB Deji Karim, who rushed for 70 yards on 15 carries last week in his debut. In a word, one NFL scout described Karim as “smooth”. He was finding holes and slicing through tackles and really made the most of his chances.
GAMEPLAN
We have to expect plenty of running in this game but the passing attack against these secondaries could end up being the difference. Tennessee has been burned for big plays and HC Del Rio will go after the Titans deep without hesitation.
Tennessee’s wide receivers have been impressive this year and they are going up and getting the football. With the Titans making plays down field and Young’s ability to scramble, Jacksonville defense could be in for a long night.
UNDER THE LIGHTS
Jacksonville is 0-2 SU/ATS the past two years on Monday Night Football while the Titans boast a 3-1 ATS record during the last three years.
Tennessee is 2-1 ATS on the road, 1-1 ATS vs. division and 1-0 ATS on the road vs. division.
Both of Jacksonville’s games were divisional, one at home and one away; the Jags lost each by double-digits.
PREDICTION
Tennessee put up a good fight in Dallas but the game really was handed to them after countless Cowboy mistakes and penalties. That didn’t go unnoticed by HC Fisher and he should have this team functioning as a much tighter unit.
Jacksonville was a rare example last week of a football team that can lose the turnover battle (-3) and still come away with a road win. That was Buffalo, however, and against Tennessee they will not be afforded the same luxuries.
The Jaguars are last in the league in TD passes allowed and even though they are 2-1 SU/ATS at home it was Michael Vick – a quarterback that knows how to scramble – that beat them. Vick didn’t beat the Jags with sheer mobility and Young won’t have to either. He has enough weapons at his disposal to wear this defense out and at less than a field goal we feel the value here is on the underdog.
Pick: Take the Titans
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