Houston Texans (9-6 SU, 6-8-1 ATS) vs. Tennessee Titans (8-7 SU, 6-9 ATS)
NFL Week 17
Date/Time: Sunday, January 1st , 2017 at 1:00PM EST
Where: Nissan Stadium Nashville, Tennessee
TV: CBS
by Bob, Expert Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: HOU +3 / TEN -3
Over/Under Total: 40
Week 17 in the NFL is filled with games that have no meaning. Some of these type games are almost like a preseason game in a way. This Sunday, the Houston Texans will take on the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. The Texans claim that will go all out and treat this game like any other but I wonder down the stretch in the second half if that continues to hold true. Houston has clinched the AFC South and they have actually scored the least amount of touchdowns as any team in the NFL this season. The next lowest playoff team in this area are the Detroit Lions who have 30 touchdowns. I do not see a deep run for these Texans but hey, you never know.
The line has Tennessee as a three point home favorite. I assume this is due to the fact that many expect the Texans to sit this one out and just get ready for their first playoff game. Again, the Texans appear to be headed in the direction of treating this game like it means something but they may want to take notes and take a look across the field at Marcus Mariota. Houston already has major quarterback issues and they cannot afford any injury to whoever it is they will have under center. As for the total points, the line is set at 40 combined. 63% of the bettors like Houston on the road and 57% of the action likes this game to go under the 40 points.
The Tennessee Titans were right in the heat of the AFC South race until they lost to Jacksonville last week. Not only did they lose the game to the Jaguars, but as you know, they lost Marcus Mariota to a broken leg. Good news is that Mariota will be fully healed and ready to go next season. I really do not like predicting these types of games. Houston, who is the absolute worst playoff team in my opinion is just not that good of a team and Tennessee is now without their starting quarterback and will be forced to let Matt Cassell get the start which in all honesty, this Sunday, Cassell will be the best quarterback on the field. How can Tennessee finish 2016-2017 on a winning note? Pressure Tom Savage. Savage is the starter now for Houston and he is very inexperienced. If the Titans can mix it up on defense and force him into tough situations, I think Houston makes enough mistakes to let Tennessee get the win and cover.
Again, Houston has clinched the AFC South, it is a done deal, but a team like Houston, who again is not that great to begin with, needs to go into the post season with momentum. They do not need to come in and just let Tennessee win. Tom Savage needs valuable snaps and this game needs to be handled as a game that matters in order to get quality reps. That not only means this needs to be handled with playcalling as if you are in a must win situation but it also means reps with the starting line up. You do not want a young, inexperienced QB taking snaps and running plays with guys he will not be on the field with in next weeks WildCard round of the playoffs.
This game is not an easy one to predict. My best advice is lay off and stay away. However, if you are forced to take a side here, I actually like Tennessee. I believe if Tennessee had got past Jacksonville and this weeks game was for the AFC South, I would like the Titans to win and that is even without Mariota. I just think the Titans were playing better football and had the advantage heading in. However, that is not the case this week. I do like the Titans in this game but I like them in an ugly game. Tennessee will beat Houston 19-13.
Bobs Pick to Cover the Point Spread: TAKE THE TENNESSEE TITANS -3 POINTS AND TAKE UNDER THE POSTED TOTAL OF 40
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