Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Sept. 21, 2021

Joe Williams
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The third week of the NFL regular season is upon us, and both of these teams get their first taste of divisional play. In fact, it's the first battle against a conference foe, too, as each side faced two NFC West clubs to kick off the campaign. It's an important game, too, as these two teams are still considered the favorites in the AFC South Division.

Score Prediction: Titans 29, Colts 17

Best Bet: Titans -5.5

Best Bet: Under 48.5

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans Predictions

The Colts limp into this game, literally, with QB Carson Wentz having suffered sprains to both ankles in last week's loss against the Los Angeles Rams. He was unable to practice Wednesday, and is a question mark heading into the weekend. If he cannot start, it would be QB Jacob Eason, who came on in Week 2, getting the nod. Either way, the Colts have an uphill climb against their divisional foe, especially on the road at Nissan Stadium in the Music City.

The Titans are flying high after a thrilling 33-30 comeback victory in overtime against the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 2. It's the same Seahawks team which topped the Colts in Indianapolis in Week 1, by the way, 28-16. The most important part of last Sunday's game was RB Derrick Henry getting going, and did he ever? He rolled up 182 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including a huge 60-yard scoring scamper in the fourth quarter which really seemed to turn the tables.

In that Seattle victory, WR Julio Jones also got going after a mediocre first impression, going for six grabs and 128 yards on eight targets. He nearly had a touchdown in the back of the end zone, too, but a controversy ensued when the catch was overturned despite the fact there appeared to be green in between his shoe and the back line of the end zone. In any event, if Jones gets going, and A.J. Brown starts to see single coverage, it could be a long day, not only for the Colts, but for the entire AFC South and conference. This Titans team has a lot of weapons, and they'll be on display Sunday in what should be another strong offensive showing and win.

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Indianapolis Colts vs.. Tennessee Titans Betting Odds

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Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans Betting Resources

• Matchup: AFC South
• Date: Sunday, September 26, 2021
• Venue: Nissan Stadium
• Location: Nashville, Tennessee
• TV-Time: CBS - 1:00 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• Injury Report
• Super Bowl 56 Betting

Indianapolis Colts Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 0-2
• ATS: 1-1
• O/U: 1-1
• ATS - Home: 1-1
• ATS - Away: 0-0

The Colts were expected to challenge the Titans for the top spot in the AFC South, but they have opened with a pair of losses, each at home, although they at least managed to cover the spread against the Rams last week in a 27-24 loss. Still, this team has started slow, and they look more likely to challenge the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars for last place, rather than the Titans for the perch, if the offense doesn't start to get going.

Indy has managed 345.0 total yards of offense, good for 20th in the NFL, and they have 234.0 passing yards per game, good for 19th. The best part of the offense is still rather middling, as they have 111.0 rushing yards per outing, which is 16th in the league. And the 20.0 PPG is 25th, so really, everything on offense has just been mediocre, and that seems to point to a team in line to be 8-9 or 9-8, not challenge for a division title.

The defense hasn't been much better. In fact, it's really more of the same. In total yards allowed, they are 18th with 376.0 allowed, they're 17th against the pass and 18th against the rush. The defense has allowed 27.5 PPG, and that's 23rd in the league, although things can obviously change in a hurry since the sample size is rather small in just two games. Still, they need a big effort, and they need it quickly.

Tennessee Titans Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 1-1
• ATS: 1-1
• O/U: 1-1
• ATS - Home: 0-1
• ATS - Away: 1-0

As mentioned, Henry got going last week, and the offense appears to be ready to hit its stride early after a loss in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. The Titans have piled up 390.0 total yards of offense, good for 10th in the NFL, and they're 16th in passing yards with 241.0 per game. Henry is the key, however, helping the Titans rank fourth in the league with 149.0 yards per game on the ground, helped out by his monster showing in Seattle in front of the 12s.

On defense is where the Titans entered the season with question marks, and they have yet to answer any of those questions. A mobile quarterback like Arizona's Kyler Murray showed he can have his way with this unit, although they did slightly better containing Russell Wilson last week. They don't have to worry about Wentz running on them, if he even plays, and Eason isn't much of a threat to take off if he is tabbed, so that's good for the Titans. They can pin their ears back and plan to face a more traditional quarterback.

The Titans are allowed 406.5 total yards per game, good for 24th, and they have been shredded through the air for 300.0 yards per contest, or 28th in the NFL. That simply won't do if they wish to contend outside of the AFC South. They have been good against the run, allowing just 106.5 yards per game, but that's because they're getting crushed through the air.

The point total has gone OVER in four of the last five games played between the Titans and the Colts. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Indianapolis Colts

• Record: 0-2
• Division Standing: 3rd - AFC South
• Points Scored: 40 (24th)
• Points Allowed: 55 (23rd)
• PS/G: 20
• PA/G: 27.5

Inside the Stats - Tennessee Titans

• Record: 1-1
• Division Standing: 1st - AFC South
• Points Scored: 58 (8th)
• Points Allowed: 52 (20th)
• PS/G: 29
• PA/G: 26

Key Players to Watch

• IND: Zach Pascal - WR (9 catches, 81 yards, 3 TD)
• IND: Khari Willis - S (14 tackles, INT, PD, 0.5 sacks)
• TEN: Derrick Henry - RB (52 carries, 240 yards, 3 TD)
• TEN: A.J. Brown - WR (7 catches, 92 yards, TD)

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans Betting Conclusion

The Colts have some major question marks heading into this one, and that starts under center. It's actually not hard to see the Colts slipping to 0-3 in this one, although they have dominated this series, especially against the number, over the years. But trends can be deceiving, and Jones, Wentz, etc. weren't around when a lot of that history was established. This is 2021, not 2011, and a lot of the stuff that happened in the past just doesn't matter.

I really like the Titans to do some big things on offense, using last week's win in Seattle as a springboard. Henry should gobble up big numbers, and the Tennessee pass defense will be better simply because there is no dual-threat quarterback on the other side this week. They know what's coming at them, and so far for Wentz and the Indy offense, what they have been tossing up just hasn't been very good.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans Betting Trends

• TBD

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