Titans heavily favored to win by five points in road game against Falcons, as per Cam Ward's prediction
Titans Favorites, but Falcons Predicted to Cover Spread in Preseason Clash
The Tennessee Titans are five-point favorites against the Atlanta Falcons in their NFL preseason game on Thursday night, but bettors should be wary of backing the Titans due to the team's offensive struggles and the Falcons' ability to keep the preseason game tight.
Despite a close 23-20 victory in Week 1, the Titans' offense showed inconsistencies, especially at quarterback. The number one overall pick, Cameron Ward, who is expected to lead the offense, struggled in his second preseason game, completing just two of seven passes for 42 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions [5]. Preseason performances often involve limited playing time and experimentation with lineups, further complicating reliable betting decisions.
The Falcons, on the other hand, kept the game close and competitive, losing by only three points [2]. This close margin and the Titans' uneven offensive production imply that the five-point favorite status might not fully reflect the team’s current readiness or strength.
In Week 1, the Falcons did not play any of their starters, but their backups, Easton Stick and Emory Jones, had a solid passing attack, going a combined 19/23 for 185 yards and a touchdown through three quarters [6]. If the starters are active for Week 2, they could pose a significant threat to the Titans' defense.
Meanwhile, the Titans' defense allowed over 300 yards of total offense and 29 points in Week 1 [4]. If the Falcons' starters can maintain their strong passing game, they could potentially cover the five-point spread.
However, it is unclear whether the rest of the starters will be active for Week 2 [3]. Michael Penix Jr. has already been ruled out for Week 2 for the Falcons [7].
In his preseason debut, Cam Ward completed five of eight passes for 67 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions [8]. He is expected to play further into the game against the Atlanta Falcons, and while he was able to lead the Titans' only scoring drive of the game in the second quarter [9], don't assume that he will light up the scoreboard in this game.
Last year's draft had three quarterbacks selected as the first three picks, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye [10]. Maye was the only one of the three QBs to play Week 3 due to his impending status as a backup [1]. Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle struggled with the backups for the Titans [11].
The Titans were defeated by Tampa Bay 29-7, while the Falcons lost to Detroit 17-10 in a game that was cut short due to an injury [2]. Both teams started their preseason with a loss, 0-1 [3].
In conclusion, while the Titans are favored, bettors should be cautious about backing them as five-point favorites due to the team's offensive struggles and the Falcons' ability to keep the preseason game tight. If the Falcons' starters are active, they could potentially cover the five-point spread.
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