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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16). Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Week 18: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans betting picks, preview

By Matt Wiesenfeld | Last updated 1/4/24

Jacksonville has not built on last year's success the way they were hoping to. Nevertheless, if they win on Sunday at Tennessee, they take the AFC South and get back into the playoffs. The Titans are going to try and disrupt that happy ending by beating their division rivals, of course. Both starting quarterbacks, Trevor Lawrence and Will Levis, are questionable.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans Betting Trends and Odds

Sunday, Jan. 7, 2023 — 1 p.m. ET
Spread: Jacksonville -5.5, Over/under 40, Jacksonville -250 | Tennessee +190

This one is a really tough game to project. In terms of motivation, it is all on the Jacksonville side because they control their own destiny, but when you get into backup quarterbacks playing, possibly on both sides, anything can happen. The Jags have won three straight over Tennessee and were favored (-6.5) when they met in Jacksonville in November.

Picks for Jacksonville vs. Tennessee

Jacksonville -5.5; Jacksonville Over 23.5 Points (+105)

The whole Panthers owner David Tepper throwing a drink thing took the attention away from the fact that Jacksonville won last week 26-0 (a game they had to have). I know Carolina is the worst team in the league, but the Jags were playing without Lawrence and dominated. The defense gave up less than 100 yards of total offense.

This week, Lawrence's status is still questionable, but I am confident they can win on the road to secure a spot in the playoffs, even if he does not play. When the Jags met Tennessee earlier in the season they were able to bottle up Tennessee RB Derrick Henry and eat up the clock with their own productive running game. Perhaps Tennessee has some fight in them but that might not last past the first quarter, especially if they find themselves down. I think the Jags can win comfortably again, just by avoiding mistakes.

With uncertainty around the quarterback position on both sides, there are not as many props to bet on this game right now. I think the Jacksonville offense will be more than functional on Sunday and getting to 24 points should not be too hard. Even as they endured their four-game losing streak last month they eclipsed this total with Lawrence in and out of the lineup. In a methodical win, I think we can count on the same.

The margins are small in the market right now but Jacksonville is getting more support. I would not be surprised to see this game oscillate up and down a half-point or so over the next few days. I would be surprised to see it get to -7 or lower than -4.5.

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