Titans vs. Colts Spread Prediction
The Colts and Titans will essentially battle in a play-in game Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET in Nashville. Tennessee likely won’t have Marcus Mariota but are the Titans still worth a flier as a home dog in this divisional matchup?
Game Snapshot
321 Indianapolis Colts at 322 Tennessee Titans
8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 30
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Colts are 4.5-point favorites to beat the Titans. The total, meanwhile, sits at 44 points. As of this writing, 56% of the public betting tickets are on the Colts to cover the point spread.
Indianapolis Colts
T.Y. Hilton (questionable, ankle) is expected to play Week 17 against the Titans. Hilton was absent from practice this week, but that’s been his routine lately. He’ll be ready for Sunday’s primetime game in Nashville, as will Eric Ebron, who appears to be over the concussion he suffered in Week 16.
Tennessee Titans
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports Marcus Mariota (questionable, stinger) is not expected to play Sunday night against the Colts. Mariota was trending toward playing, so this comes as a surprise. The Titans don’t want to put Mariota’s long-term throwing ability at risk with a setback but are hoping he could return for the postseason if they advance. It’s a huge downgrade for Tennessee’s offense. Blaine Gabbert will start if Mariota is held out, with Austin Davis backing him up.
NFL Betting Trends
Indianapolis
The Colts have covered the spread in all five of their last five games versus an opponent that owns a winning record.
Tennessee
The Titans are 13-5-1 against the number in their last 19 home games and are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games played in the month of December.
Prediction
There’s a lot of value with the Titans despite not having Mariota. Whether Blaine Gabbert starts or a banged-up Mariota, the Titans were going to have to lean on Derrick Henry, their running game and their defense to beat the Colts tonight. Thus, not much changes with Mariota being out, outside of his ability to run. The home team is 5-2 against the spread in the last seven meetings between these two teams while the Colts are just 6-13-2 at the betting window in their last 21 games coming off a straight up win.
NFL Week 17 Prediction: Tennessee Titans +4.5