The Miami Dolphins (8-7, 3-4 away) face off against the Tennessee Titans (10-5, 6-2 home) in an AFC battle with playoff implications on the line. Miami needs a win to stay in the hunt for a postseason bid, and the Titans can cash their ticket to the postseason with a win.
Sunday’s kickoff is at 1 p.m. EST inside Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN. Tennessee is a 3.5-point favorite, and the over-under is at 40.0 points.
What to Know – Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins made history last week, becoming the first team in NFL history to lose seven-straight and follow that up with seven wins in a row. Miami is now in a position to earn a playoff bid, but the Dolphins will need to win out to do so.
Miami’s offense averages 20.3 points and 328.1 yards per game. The Dolphins’ defense holds teams to 21.0 points and 360.3 yards.
The Dolphins held Ian Book and the Saints offense to three points in last week’s Monday Night Football action. Miami’s defense held New Orleans to just 164 yards of total offense and created a pair of turnovers. Tua Tagovailoa threw for 198 yards, and a touchdown, and Jaylen Waddle hauled in ten passes for 92 yards and a score.
Miami is 8-6-1 against the spread with a 6-1 record ATS over their last seven games. The total has gone under in six of Miami’s last eight games.
What to Know – Tennessee Titans
A win Sunday, and the Titans are back to the postseason for the third season in a row. Tennessee opened the season with an 8-2 record but have stumbled down the stretch, going 2-3 over their last five matchups.
The Titans score 23.8 points per game behind an offense that averages 361.3 yards. Defensively, Tennessee surrenders 21.7 points and 351.9 yards of offense to opposing teams.
Tennessee pulled out a much-needed victory last week in a 20-17 victory over San Francisco behind the kicking leg of Randy Bullock. Bullock nailed a game-winning field goal with four seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter. Titans’ AJ Brown erupted for 145 yards on 11 receptions with a touchdown.
Tennessee is 9-6 ATS this year with a 2-4 mark ATS in their last six games. The total has gone under in four of the Titans’ last five games.
The Pick is In
If the season ended today, both of these teams would be in the postseason. However, with two weeks remaining in the extended NFL schedule, some work still needs to be done.
These two teams are similar in many ways, toting average offenses led by below-average quarterback play and defenses that make enough plays to keep them in games. Miami can position themselves well in the playoff picture with a win this weekend, and while they may not win their eighth straight, we predict the Dolphins to keep it close. Bet on Dolphins +3.5!
Betting Pick: Miami Dolphins +3.5
