Tennessee Titans vs Jacksonville Jaguars Picks and Predictions December 8th 2024

Tennessee Titans vs Jacksonville Jaguars December 8th 2024

The Jaguars and Titans will kick off at 1:00 ET on Sunday, December 8th at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. This week 14 AFC South matchup is being televised on CBS. The Titans are favored by -3.5 points and have a money line of -194. Jacksonville’s money line odds are +161, and the over/under line is set at 39.5 points.

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Jacksonville vs. Tennessee Key Information

• Teams: Jaguars at Titans
• Where: Nissan Stadium Nashville
• Date: Sunday, December 8th
• Betting Odds TEN -194 | JAX +161 O/U 39.5

The Jaguars Can Win If…

Jacksonville’s losing streak now stands at five games after their 23-20 home loss to the Texans in week 13. The Jaguars were 3-point underdogs and pushed the spread, bringing their ATS record to 6-5-1. They are 5-2-1 against the spread as underdogs but just 1-3 as favorites. Their O/U record is 7-5, with their games averaging 47.2 points per game.

Heading into week 14, Jacksonville is 26th in our NFL power rankings and has a 0.0% chance of making the playoffs. They are 2-10 overall and 0-6 on the road. In division games, the Jaguars are 1-2, and they are 2-5 against AFC opponents.

Heading into week 14, Jacksonville ranks 24th in our offensive power rankings. They are 24th in the NFL in points per game (19) and 27th in yards per game (297.7). The Jaguars are 25th in passing yards per game (196.4) and 27th in rushing attempts per game, averaging 101.2 yards on the ground. They rank 30th in third-down conversions, with a 32.1% success rate, but are 16th in red zone conversion percentage.

Mac Jones threw for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns in week 13, with a passer rating of 105. Parker Washington led the team with 6 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown, while Travis Etienne Jr. had 46 rushing yards on 13 carries. Jacksonville scored 14 points in the 4th quarter against the Texans but ultimately lost 23-20.

Despite their 23-20 loss to the Texans, the Jaguars’ defense allowed just 218 passing yards on 22 completions in their most recent game. They also limited Houston to a 38.5% conversion rate on third down. The Jaguars gave up 108 rushing yards on 25 attempts, with Houston finishing the game with 326 total yards.

Jacksonville’s defense recorded two sacks in the game and had two tackles for loss compared to the Texans. The Jaguars will be looking to improve in the red zone, as they allowed one passing touchdown and a 64.7% completion rate to Houston.

• Across Jacksonville’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 0-3. In these matchups, they ended with an ATS record of 1-1-1 and an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Jacksonville has a record of 2-8. In these contests, the team went just 5-4-1 against the spread, while going 7-3 on the over-under.

The Titans Can Win If…

Heading into week 14, the Titans sit 3-9 on the season, putting them 13th in our power rankings and giving them just a 0.2% chance of making the playoffs. Tennessee is 1-4 at home and 2-5 on the road, with a 1-1 record in division games. In week 12, they picked up a win over the Texans, but they couldn’t build on that in week 13, falling 42-19 to the Commanders.

Against the spread, the Titans are 2-10, with both of their ATS wins coming as underdogs. Their average scoring margin is -9.2 points per game. Their O/U record is 7-4-1, with the over hitting in their last two games. Their games have averaged 46.1 points this season, with an average O/U line of 40.8.

Heading into week 14, the Titans rank 30th in our offensive power rankings, averaging 18.4 points per game, which is 27th in the NFL. They are 28th in the league in total yards per game, with 297.3, and they rank 30th in passing yards, averaging 185.9 per game. Tennessee is 19th in passing attempts and 21st in rushing attempts, with 111.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks 20th in the NFL. On third down, the Titans are 27th in the league, converting 33.8% of their attempts, but they are 7th in red zone conversion percentage.

In week 13, Tennessee scored 19 points in their loss to the Commanders, with 6 points in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Will Levis threw for 212 yards and 2 touchdowns, completing 18 of 37 passes without an interception. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine led the team with 61 receiving yards on 3 catches, while Tony Pollard had 35 rushing yards on 8 carries.

In their 42-19 loss to the Commanders, the Titans’ defense struggled to stop the run, giving up 267 yards on the ground at 5.9 yards per attempt. Although they defended the pass better, allowing just 196 yards through the air, Washington still managed to score three passing touchdowns. The Titans’ defense allowed the Commanders to convert 64.3% of their third down attempts and finish with a completion percentage of 83.3%.

Despite forcing one interception, Tennessee allowed Washington to put up 463 total yards. The Titans also managed just two sacks and lost the quarterback hit battle by a margin of -7.

• Tennessee has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). The team’s record vs the spread was just 0-3, in addition to an over-under mark of 0-3.
• Across Tennessee’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 3-7. In these contests, the team went just 2-7-1 against the spread, while going 3-6-1 on the over-under.

The Lean

For this week 14 matchup between the Titans and Jaguars, we have the Titans coming out on top by a score of 25-19. With the Titans being 3.5-point favorites, our pick vs. the spread is to take the Titans to cover at home.

As for the best way to bet the over/under, we have the Titans winning this one with a score of 25-19. With the line sitting at 39.5 points, we have a prediction of 44 combined points, making the over a good bet to consider.

NFL Expert Handicappers

Jaguars Turn to Mac Jones in Bid to End Skid Against Titans

Trevor Lawrence’s season may have come to a premature end, but the Jacksonville Jaguars still have five games left to navigate in what has been a challenging year. With the Tennessee Titans next on the schedule, the Jaguars are turning to Mac Jones in hopes of snapping their five-game losing streak.

Trevor Lawrence’s Injury: A Season-Ending Blow?

Last week, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered a concussion in a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans. The injury occurred after a hit from linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who has since been suspended for three games. Lawrence’s placement on injured reserve requires him to miss at least four games, but his season is likely over due to an additional shoulder injury that might require surgery.

The fourth-year quarterback has had a turbulent season, completing 60.6% of his passes for 2,045 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. With Jacksonville sitting at 2-10 and eliminated from playoff contention, head coach Doug Pederson is prioritizing Lawrence’s long-term health.

“You’ve got to be smart about it,” Pederson said. “He wants to be out there with his teammates, but we need to think about his future.”

This marks Lawrence’s sixth injury since the start of the 2023 season, raising concerns about his durability and the protection afforded by Jacksonville’s offensive line.

Mac Jones Takes the Reins

Mac Jones, the former New England Patriots starter, now steps into the spotlight for the Jaguars. Last week, Jones completed 20 of 32 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns—one of his better performances this season.

However, Jones inherits a team riddled with challenges:

• Ranked 25th in scoring, averaging just 19 points per game.
• Ranked 28th in total offense with 297.7 yards per game.
• Ranked 31st in takeaways, with only eight this season.
• Tied for 29th in scoring defense, allowing 28.3 points per game.

The Jaguars’ struggles on both sides of the ball leave Jones with a tough road ahead as he aims to stabilize the team and end their losing streak.

Titans Look to Bounce Back After Disastrous Loss

While Jacksonville deals with quarterback issues, the Tennessee Titans have their own challenges. Coming off a demoralizing 42-19 loss to Washington, Tennessee faces mounting pressure to recover.

The Titans fell behind 28-0 in the first quarter last week, just one game removed from a surprising win over division leaders Houston. Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons didn’t mince words about the team’s inconsistent performance.

“We don’t know how to have success,” Simmons said. “It felt like we were hungover from winning. That’s on everyone—from top to bottom.”

Will Levis: A Bright Spot for Tennessee

Despite their struggles, the Titans have seen promising development from quarterback Will Levis. Since returning from a shoulder injury four weeks ago, Levis has thrown for seven touchdowns and only two interceptions, boasting a passer rating of 101.4. Known for his ability to make big downfield throws, Levis has been a rare positive in an otherwise disappointing season.

However, the Titans’ defense, which has often outperformed the team’s overall record, had its worst showing of the year last week, allowing 463 yards. Adding to their woes, several key players, including cornerback Roger McCreary and linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., missed practice on Wednesday due to injuries.

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Key Matchup Storylines

1. Quarterback Duel:
   • Mac Jones looks to reignite his career as Jacksonville’s starter.
   • Will Levis continues to prove he’s Tennessee’s quarterback of the future.
2. Injury Impact:
   • Both teams are plagued by injuries, including Lawrence’s absence for Jacksonville and defensive setbacks for Tennessee.
3. Coaching Challenges:
   • Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson must rally a struggling team without its star quarterback.
   • Titans head coach Mike Vrabel faces scrutiny as his team struggles to maintain focus and consistency.
4. Team Morale:
   • Jacksonville’s five-game losing streak has weighed on the team, while Tennessee is reeling from a blowout loss.

What to Watch For

• Mac Jones’ Adaptation: Can Jones capitalize on this opportunity to lead the Jaguars effectively, or will the team’s broader deficiencies continue to hinder progress?
• Will Levis’ Momentum: Will Levis’ performance could be the deciding factor if he continues to deliver big plays.
• Defensive Responses: Both defenses have been vulnerable. Whichever team steps up defensively could have the edge.

Conclusion

Sunday’s game between the Jaguars and Titans is a battle of two struggling teams aiming to salvage pride in difficult seasons. Jacksonville’s reliance on Mac Jones and Tennessee’s faith in Will Levis highlight the different stages of development for these quarterbacks. With both teams grappling with injuries, consistency, and morale, this matchup offers a chance for one of them to begin reversing their fortunes.