PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* Coach's Clinic >> 19-10-1 This Week! Won L3 Days!
(NFL) Tennessee vs. Chicago,
Point Spread: 6.50 | -115.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 6.50 | -115.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: If only the Titans could beat the Colts! Tennessee lost for the 11th straight time last Sunday to Indianapolis, falling to 5-6 in 2016 (are 5-4 vs. the rest of the NFL). The Titans visit the 2-8 Bears this Sunday and have little margin for error the rest of the way, with a remaining schedule that includes trips to Kansas City and Jacksonville along with a visit from Denver before finishing the regular season at home against division-leading Houston. Meanwhile, Chicago's Jay Cutler is on his way out of Chicago and after injuring his right shoulder in last week's 22-16 loss to the New York Giants, Matt Barkley is expected to make his first career start under center.
Tennessee: The Titans offense has made one of the league's biggest turnarounds from a season ago. Tennessee averaged just 18.7 PPG under rookie QB Marcus Mariota and a running game which averaged only 92.8 YPG (on 4.0 YPC). However, the addition of DeMarcus Murray (1,000 yards on 4.7 YPC with 8 TDs) has been huge,as the Titans are averaging 140.8 YPG (4.7 YPC), which ranks 3rd in the league. That threat has helped Mariota develop more quickly and he's completing 64.2% for 240.3 YPG with 23 TDs and just 8 INTs (QB rating of 100.3). The Titans are scoring 25.5 PPG (7th), up basically a full TD over last season. However, the defense is allowing 25.0 PPG, to rank 25th.
Chicago: The Bears' injury woes continue to mount, as Cutler will be joined on the sideline by guard Kyle Long (ankle) while receiver Alshon Jeffery serves the second game of a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The Bears' linebacking corps also is thin, with rookie Leonard Floyd suffering from a concussion and leading tackler Jerrell Freeman beginning his own four-game suspension for PEDs. That's bad news for a team that relies on its defense to keep it in games, as the Chicago offense is scoring only 15.7 PPG (31st). However, Chicago's once-fearsome defense is no more, as it allows a middle-of-pack 23.7 PPG (18th).
The pick: QB Mariota and RB Murray have become a dynamic duo for the Titans and they should test a reeling Chicago defense, having averaged 31.3 PPG over the team's last seven games. It's true that the Bears look like a stale team, just playing out the string knowing they'll have a new QB next year (if they are lucky, a new head coach as well). However, after escaping with a 16-15 road win at Detroit in Week 2, the Titans have lost three of their last four road games. Do you really trust a team that is 5-16 SU on the road the last two-plus seasons laying almost a TD? I don't and will make Chicago a 10* play.
Tennessee: The Titans offense has made one of the league's biggest turnarounds from a season ago. Tennessee averaged just 18.7 PPG under rookie QB Marcus Mariota and a running game which averaged only 92.8 YPG (on 4.0 YPC). However, the addition of DeMarcus Murray (1,000 yards on 4.7 YPC with 8 TDs) has been huge,as the Titans are averaging 140.8 YPG (4.7 YPC), which ranks 3rd in the league. That threat has helped Mariota develop more quickly and he's completing 64.2% for 240.3 YPG with 23 TDs and just 8 INTs (QB rating of 100.3). The Titans are scoring 25.5 PPG (7th), up basically a full TD over last season. However, the defense is allowing 25.0 PPG, to rank 25th.
Chicago: The Bears' injury woes continue to mount, as Cutler will be joined on the sideline by guard Kyle Long (ankle) while receiver Alshon Jeffery serves the second game of a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The Bears' linebacking corps also is thin, with rookie Leonard Floyd suffering from a concussion and leading tackler Jerrell Freeman beginning his own four-game suspension for PEDs. That's bad news for a team that relies on its defense to keep it in games, as the Chicago offense is scoring only 15.7 PPG (31st). However, Chicago's once-fearsome defense is no more, as it allows a middle-of-pack 23.7 PPG (18th).
The pick: QB Mariota and RB Murray have become a dynamic duo for the Titans and they should test a reeling Chicago defense, having averaged 31.3 PPG over the team's last seven games. It's true that the Bears look like a stale team, just playing out the string knowing they'll have a new QB next year (if they are lucky, a new head coach as well). However, after escaping with a 16-15 road win at Detroit in Week 2, the Titans have lost three of their last four road games. Do you really trust a team that is 5-16 SU on the road the last two-plus seasons laying almost a TD? I don't and will make Chicago a 10* play.
