Steve Starr
- Jacksonville (8-8) is a 6.5-point home favorite over Tennessee (7-9) on Saturday
- The winner of the Week 18 contest will win the AFC South and earn a spot in the playoffs
- ESPN will air the game from TIAA Bank Field on January 7 at 8:15pm ET
Jacksonville hosts Tennessee in Week 18 with the AFC South title and a playoff spot on the line. The red-hot Jaguars are looking for their sixth win in seven contests while the Titans must end a six-game losing skid to make the postseason.
Before we check the odds on this pivotal matchup, here’s where you can find the best Super Bowl betting tips and the top betting sites for NFL football in 2022.
Jaguars vs Titans
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Tennessee Titans | +6.5 (-110) | +240 | Ov 39.5 (-110) |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | -6.5 (-110) | -285 | Un 39.5 (-110) |
Jacksonville is on a roll
Jacksonville is one of the hottest teams in football. Winners of four straight, Doug Pederson’s boys are coming off a 31-3 whooping of the Titans on Sunday. Trevor Lawrence failed to toss a touchdown for the second-straight week, but Travis Etienne piled up 140 combined yards and a score in the Week 17 victory over Houston.
While shutting down Davis Mills and the talentless Texans is nothing to boast about, the Jags’ 26th-ranked defense has held their past two opponents to less than 3 points. They have also forced nine turnovers in their past four games.
Trevor Lawrence has officially arrived 🔥#DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/7O2d7TsjsL
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) December 26, 2022
Tennessee tank job
The Titans did two interesting things during last Thursday’s 27-13 loss to Dallas. First, they sat All Pro running back Derrick Henry to rest him up for Saturday’s must-win game. Second, they started Joshua Dobbs in place of fourth-round rookie Malik Willis.
Dobbs completed 20 of 39 passes for 232 yards, a touchdown and an interception. While it’s a terrible statistical line, Tennessee’s offense looked much better than in previous weeks. Providing the faintest glimmer of hope for Week 18.
Jacksonville vs Tennessee
Jacksonville is a 6.5-point home favorite over Tennessee on Saturday night with the over-under set at 39.5. At first glance, the Jags looks like a lock to claim their first division title since 2017. They clobbered the Titans 36-22 last month with Lawrence passing for 368 yards and three scores.
However, Mike Vrabel has a knock for winning big games when being underestimated. For his club to win their third-straight AFC South title, they’ll need King Henry to break a big run or two and Dobbs to play just competently enough to squeak out a W.
Derrick Henry will come out on top! 👑#Titans #TitanUp #NFL #thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/xP5wzx44VW
— The Sick Podcast – Talking Titans (@SickPodTitans) January 2, 2023
Even with a loss to the Titans, Jacksonville can still make the postseason if the Patriots lose to Buffalo and the Jets beat Miami in Week 18. However, those two games are on Sunday so the Jags will not know their playoff fate heading into Saturday night’s contest.
Best Bet
Everything points to the Jaguars in this game, but we’re taking the Titans to cover. Mike Vrabel’s battle-tested team will fight hard and keep the score close. But, hey, let’s hope like hell they fall short for the sake of the NFL playoffs. For our collective viewing pleasure, we’re pulling for Trevor Lawrence to suit up on Wild Card Weekend, rather than Josh Dobbs.
Final Score Prediction: Jaguars 20, Tennessee 16
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
