The Tennessee Titans have two very tough games left after Sunday’s visit to three-win San Francisco. So if the Titans hope to make the playoffs, they essentially are facing a must-win game. However, the Niners are slight betting favorites in the NFL odds.
Garoppolo has now started a total of four games in his career — two with San Francisco and two with New England — and he’s 4-0 both straight-up and against the spread in those games. The big difference this week is that it will be his first home game as a 49ers player. Although the 49ers are 7-6 ATS this season, they’re just 2-4 at home. The Titans are 3-4 on the road and just 2-5 ATS away from home, which is one of the worst road marks in the NFL.
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon suffered a sprained knee in last week’s win against Houston, and coach Kyle Shanahan said the rookie will be day-to-day. Considering some of the Niners’ struggles in the secondary, losing Witherspoon for this week’s game against Tennessee would be a big blow, leaving only unproven rookie Greg Mabin and struggling veteran Dontae Johnson on the outside.
Tennessee at San Francisco NFL Odds & Week 15 Prediction
When: Sunday, 4:25 PM ET Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California TV: CBS Radio: WGFX FM 104.5 (Tennessee) / KNBR 680 (San Francisco) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Odds: 49ers -2 (44)Niners Preparation #TitanUp Thursday Gallery 📸 » https://t.co/maVBnnj9Yv pic.twitter.com/YXT9nSDskZ
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 15, 2017
Weather Forecast
- Clear: 17°C/63°F
- Humidity: 33%
- Precipitation: 0%
- Wind: 5 mph NNW
- Cloud Cover: 3%
- Type of Stadium: Open
Last Meeting
In 2013, the Titans hosted San Francisco in Week 7 of the 2013 season and the Niners won 31-17. Colin Kaepernick threw for 199 yards and ran for 68 and a touchdown. Frank Gore also ran for a pair of 1-yard TDs. Tramaine Brock also intercepted a pass, Justin Smith had two of the 49ers’ three sacks and Kassim Osgood recovered a muffed punt for a TD. None of those guys are still with the Niners. Jake Locker was the Tennessee QB that day and is now out of the NFL. The 49ers lead the all-time series 8-5.Why Bet on Tennessee?
The Titans need this as they are battling for both a wild-card spot and the AFC South title, sitting a game behind Jacksonville there. Tennessee didn’t play well last week in a 12-7 loss in Arizona. Well, the defense played well. Marcus Mariota completed 16 of 31 passes for only 159 yards and two picks. Mariota’s first interception came on a pass to Rishard Matthews where the receiver said he should have crossed over to the defender’s face more. The second was a terrible throw by Mariota in which he didn’t see the Cardinals linebacker waiting over the middle. Making matters worse, he played through a minor knee injury he suffered early in the game. Tennessee managed 65 yards rushing. For the second time in three games, the Titans defense tallied eight sacks, tying for the third-highest total in franchise history. Led by defensive tackle Jurrell Casey’s two sacks, seven different players registered at least one sack. The Titans were one short of the franchise record of nine sacks, which was achieved on two separate occasions (Oct. 14, 1962 against the New York Titans and Oct. 31, 1971 against the Cincinnati Bengals). The defense also produced eight sacks at Indianapolis on Nov. 26, making this the first season in Titans/Oilers history the defense has had multiple games with eight or more sacks in a season. The problem was that the game was decided by five points as the Titans are 4-0 this season in games decided by four points or less. Mariota was a full participant this week in practice despite the knee sprain and will start. Mariota is in the midst of a regression in Year 3. He has a career-high 14 interceptions, including 10 over the last six games. Left tackle Taylor Lewan also was hurt last week but should be good to go. The Titans stayed in Arizona this week to practice instead of flying all the way back home and then back to the West Coast.Why Bet on San Francisco?
The Niners have just three victories but have won the past two weeks on the road behind new trade acquisition QB Jimmy Garoppolo. In last week’s upset in Houston, he completed 20-of-33 passes for 334 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He really started playing well in the second half and found Garrett Celek for his first touchdown as the starter — he threw one in relief of C.J. Beathard in Week 12. Jimmy G’s statistics since landing with the 49ers include 48 completions on 72 attempts for 645 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The 49ers offense has registered 27 completions of 10 yards or more over the past two weeks, fourth-most in the NFL in that time span. Carlos Hyde led the 49ers backfield vs. Houston with 78 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown, his fifth score of the season. The 49ers passing game was led by Marquise Goodwin, who recorded six receptions for 106 yards, his second 100-yard game of the season (116 yards at Ind. Oct. 2017). Goodwin is averaging 19.3 yards per reception, the highest in the NFL, and aims for his fifth game in a row with 75 or more receiving yards. Trent Taylor leads all NFL rookies this season with 22 receptions on third down. He also ranks third among rookie receivers in receptions (34) and fourth in receiving yards (342).
Garoppolo has now started a total of four games in his career — two with San Francisco and two with New England — and he’s 4-0 both straight-up and against the spread in those games. The big difference this week is that it will be his first home game as a 49ers player. Although the 49ers are 7-6 ATS this season, they’re just 2-4 at home. The Titans are 3-4 on the road and just 2-5 ATS away from home, which is one of the worst road marks in the NFL.
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon suffered a sprained knee in last week’s win against Houston, and coach Kyle Shanahan said the rookie will be day-to-day. Considering some of the Niners’ struggles in the secondary, losing Witherspoon for this week’s game against Tennessee would be a big blow, leaving only unproven rookie Greg Mabin and struggling veteran Dontae Johnson on the outside.
Latest NFL Odds Trends
- Tennessee is 2-4-1 ATS in the last 7 games
- Tennessee is 6-2 SU in the last 8 games
- The total went UNDER in 4 of Tennessee’s last 5 games on the road
- San Francisco is 3-10 ATS in the last 13 games at home
- San Francisco is 4-21 SU in the last 25 games
- The total went UNDER in 5 of San Francisco’s last 6 games
