The Titans, coming off a tough road loss against the Steelers, now have a short week to try to get back on the right track against the visiting 49ers on Thursday night.
The Tennessee Titans are leaking oil.
In fact, they have been for some time now, and one could make the argument that all started when All-Pro running back Derrick Henry went down with his foot injury. And while depth running back D’Onte Foreman has been valiant in trying to get head coach Mike Vrabel’s run-first offense back on track, the simple truth is Tennessee’s offense hasn’t been able to match up well enough against even mid-level competition.
This was apparent in Week 15’s road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which produced 318 all-purpose yards and 22 first downs, only to be done in by four lost turnovers to Pittsburgh’s defense.
With a short week now at hand, and the suddenly surging 8-6 San Francisco 49ers coming to town for Thursday Night Football, Vrabel and Co. have to turn things around if they want to stay high in the AFC playoff seeding.
Titans vs. 49ers odds Week 16
Tennessee has lost three of its last four. The Niners, meanwhile, have won five of their last six.
This alone should help fans understand why the oddsmakers over at WynnBET are listing the Titans as three-point home underdogs for this prime-time contest with Tennessee’s opening moneyline coming in at +145.
San Francisco’s moneyline opened at -165, and the over/under for this bout is currently at 44.5.
Titans vs. 49ers prediction Week 16
The one X-factor working in Tennessee’s favor this game is something neither team can control.
The 49ers, having to travel two time zones to the east on a short week to be the road squad, won’t have anywhere near the ideal recovery and preparation time for this game. And the Niners, despite their hot streak, have been done in by their own turnovers in losses this season.
That’s what the Titans will look to exploit despite their own woes over the second half of 2021.
If Tennessee winds up playing a clean game, allowing San Francisco to commit its own mistakes, it should be a slump-busting victory at Nissan Stadium for the home team.
And that’s what we’ll go ahead and predict, as the Titans wind up pulling off the prime-time victory and covering, ultimately winning 24-20 in Week 16.
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