Titans, Jaguars do have actual talent
For your prime-time viewing pleasure, the NFL presents Tennessee at Jacksonville, with five wins and 13 losses between them. Really?
Sure. Every team gets a chance to show off on Thursday night. And believe it or not, both the Titans (2-7) and Jaguars (3-6) have some talent worth watching.
For Tennessee, of course, it’s Marcus Mariota, who when healthy is having a pretty decent season. He’s thrown 13 touchdown passes, a team record for a rookie, and six interceptions, and has a 98.3 passer rating, ninth in the league, ahead of Ben Roethlisberger and both Mannings.
Ten of those TDs and no picks have come on the road.
“I just play my game, play myself,” Mariota said. “I don’t treat it any different than any other game. It is fun playing in a hostile environment. Any competitive athlete would tell you there’s a satisfaction when you are able to compete to the best of your ability on the road.”
The Jaguars are developing a nice passing game with Blake Bortles throwing to Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson. If high-priced tight end Julius Thomas begins contributing regularly, they could become outright dangerous.
Jacksonville is a three-point favourite over Tennessee. The Jaguars won at Baltimore, but have taken consecutive victories just once since December 2010. Make that twice. Our pick in this AFC South game? Jaguars, 21-20.
OUR OTHER PICKS
Buffalo (plus-7) at New England: We know, it gets tiresome picking Patriots to cover. But they so love beating Rex Ryan ... Best bet: Patriots, 30-20. New York Jets (minus-2½) at Houston: Two good defences and spotty offences. Jets should not be favoured. Upset special: Texans, 17-16. Washington (plus-7) at Carolina: Panthers stay unbeaten but get tested. Panthers, 23-20 Dallas (plus-1) at Miami: Tony Romo won’t save Cowboys’ season, but will help end slide in this one. Cowboys, 23-16. Green Bay (plus-1) at Minnesota: Still can’t believe what’s happening to Packers. Make that refuse to believe it. Packers, 24-22. St. Louis (pick ’em) at Baltimore: Still can’t believe what’s happening to Ravens. But not being stubborn about it. Rams, 16-14. Kansas City (minus-3) at San Diego: Chiefs coming on, Chargers looking for healthy bodies — and new home. Chiefs, 19-14. Cincinnati (plus-3) at Arizona: Ah, a prime-time game really worth tuning in to see. Cardinals, 28-27. Denver (minus-1½) at Chicago: If Brock Osweiler is successful sub for Peyton Manning, do we rename team Brockos? Bears, 20-17. San Francisco (plus-11) at Seattle: Just don’t know what to make of disappointing Seahawks. Seahawks, 23-16. Tampa Bay (plus-6½) at Philadelphia: Con’t know what to make of disappointing Eagles. Eagles, 19-16 Oakland (minus-1) at Detroit: Lions have had their thrill this season with win at Lambeau Field. Raiders, 30-26. Indianapolis (plus-6) at Atlanta: Matt Hasselbeck might be most reliable backup QB in NFL. Not enough here, but close. Falcons, 23-20.
2015 RECORD
Against spread: week 6-8, season (73-63-3). Straight up: week 3-11, season (8759). Best Bet: 5-5 against spread, 6-4 straight up. Upset special: 5-5 against spread, 2-8 straight up.