NFL Expert Pick – Tennessee Titans visit Jacksonville Jaguars
The Tennessee Titans are not the NFL expert pick this Monday as they travel to Jacksonville to face their AFC South division rivals, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
(3-2) Tennessee Titans at (3-2) Jacksonville Jaguars
Live from Jacksonville Municipal Stadium - FL
Kickoff: 8:30 PM EST Monday, October 18, 2010
Broadcast: ESPN
Northbet NFL Expert Pick Odds:
Tennessee Titans -3
Jacksonville Jaguars +3
Total 45
The similarities between these two teams runs deeper than their identical 3-2 records. Tennessee ranks 26th in pass defense, while Jacksonville is 28th and the Titans have the league’s 6th best rushing attack, while the Jaguars are 4th.
In addition, Titans quarterback Vince Young has totaled 684 passing yards, completing 61.5% of his passes, with a passer rating of 95.1 thus far this North Bet season. Jaguars quarterback David Garrard has a strikingly similar stat line, completing 66.4% of his passes for 789 yards, with a 90.1 passer rating.
Second year wide receiver Mike Thomas has emerged as Garrard’s favorite target, hauling in a team high 21 passes for 258 yards. Tight end Mercedes Lewis has proved to be a deadly threat inside the red zone, with five touchdowns coming from just 16 receptions on the year.
This MNF betting matchup could easily turn out to be a shootout. With Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew finding their form in recent weeks, both defenses will have to focus more attention on stopping the run.
Young and Garrard have been inconsistent this season, but Garrard has shown more efficiency in the pocket in recent weeks than Young. If the Jacksonville defense can contain Young and keep him inside the tackles, Tennessee’s offense will have trouble moving the football.
I like Jacksonville to win and cover at home.
NFL Expert Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars (+3).
