This preseason was supposed to be a great chance for the Tennessee Titans to get a look at both Malik Willis and Will Levis, but Levis had to miss preseason Week 2 with an injury, so it was the Malik Willis show. Levis hopes to be back for the final preseason game against the New England Patriots.
The Titans are 1-1 after Willis’s win last week and the Patriots are 1-1 this preseason as well. New England is coming off a 21-17 win over the Packers and may have a few more snaps for Mac Jones after a 6/9 for 52 yard performance last week.
Let’s get into the odds for this preseason AFC matchup.
Patriots vs. Titans odds, spread and total
Patriots vs. Titans prediction and pick
Regardless of whether or not Will Levis plays this week, I still love the Titans in any preseason matchup.
They lost Week 1 of preseason, but out-gained the Chicago Bears and were beaten by two screen passes that went for long touchdowns. The Titans have one of the most talented quarterback rooms in the NFL, not in terms of the best starter, but the best third string QB.
Tennessee showed how effective Malik Willis can be at running an offense last week when he only threw for 85 yards and they still scored 24 points. Willis was the only QB to play and the Titans ran for 281 yards in the game and outgained the Vikings by nearly 100 yards.
With Willis on the field they are hard to stop, especially in the preseason without a specific game plan for Willis’s unique rushing ability at the position.
Willis ran for 91 yards on 11 carries and Julius Chestnut deserves mention for his 98 yards and a touchdown rushing on 11 carries. Chestnut ran for 7.5 yards per carry and Tyjae Spears who got seven carries went for 57 yards and a touchdown which averages out to 8.1 yards per carry.
It’s been two straight weeks of Tennessee out gaining their opponent and the Patriots, despite winning last week, got outgained by 95 yards against the Packers.
Bailey Zappe went just 10-for-22 for 117 yards and one touchdown in his extended action. That’s not good enough against a preseason rushing attack like the Titans. I’ll back Mike Vrabel’s team again this week.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change