NFL Football
2021-11-14 - New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 10
Sunday 14th November 2021 - Scheduled 1pm
6pm (British Time)
Preview
If the season was to finish now, both the Tennessee Titans (7-2) and the New Orleans Saints (5-3) would be involved in the PlayOffs. However, injuries have had an impact on both of these teams and it will be interesting to see which of them, if any, are able to deal with those best going forward.
The win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9 will have given the Titans belief that they will find a way to manage without Derrick Henry at Running Back. One of the top players at the position, Henry could return in the PlayOffs, but for now the Titans will be having to use a Committee at Running Back with veteran Adrian Peterson perhaps the premier Back and we will learn a lot about this team.
A win will be highly encouraging for the Tennessee Titans, but Mike Vrabel will know his team need to be better if they are going to hold onto the Number 1 Seed in the AFC. They do have wins over some of their biggest rivals and you can imagine the public have to be wondering why the layers are giving them such a gift of a spread with the Titans.
That is especially the case when you think of how the New Orleans Saints were beaten by the Atlanta Hawks in Week 9 without Jameis Winston, while they are also going to be without Alvin Kamara for this game. That means Trevor Siemian and Mark Ingram behind the Offensive Line and it is hard to trust the current Quarter Back considering what we have seen from him throughout his career.
Sean Payton is an Offensive minded Head Coach and he could bring in Taysom Hill to take some snaps at Quarter Back, but Trevor Siemian and the Saints are coming in off a defeat to the Atlanta Hawks and this is a team that has not looked their best on the Offensive side of the ball.
Even with that in mind, the New Orleans Saints have a chance in this game and that is because they seem to match up pretty well with the Tennessee Titans. The Offensive Line should be able to find some running room for Mark Ingram even without Alvin Kamara's skillset in the backfield, and they are able to give the Quarter Back some time to make some plays down the field.
As well as the Titans have played, they are a team who have recently given up plenty of yards on the ground. Trevor Siemian has to avoid the mistakes that cost the Los Angeles Rams last week and throwing into this Secondary can be dangerous, but he should be given all of the support from his Head Coach to keep the chains moving.
In recent years the New Orleans Saints have been known for their powerful Offensive unit, but it is the Defensive unit that has stepped up for them this season. The Saints Defensive Line has been able to clamp down on the run and they will feel they can restrict the Titans without Derrick Henry in the backfield and that will shift the pressure onto Ryan Tannehill.
The Quarter Back has some big time Receiving threats that could help him move the ball through the air, but Tennessee are reliant on the run and being able to clamp down at the line of scrimmage will be a huge win for the road team. It will allow New Orleans to unleash the pass rush, which has been effective, and they will be able to give the Titans Offensive Line some fits that can end up stalling drives and perhaps forcing Field Goals rather than Touchdowns.
New Orleans are 23-8 against the spread in their last thirty-one games as the road underdog and they are 4-1 against the spread in their last five following a loss.
I can only respect Mike Vrabel and the Titans who have not only been winning games, but they have covered in their last five in a row. However, I think they may not score enough points to cover here and the New Orleans Saints should be much better than Week 9 and can keep this close enough with the points behind them.
Prediction
Take the points with the road underdog.
The Pick :
Tennessee Titans 21-20 New Orleans Saints
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back the New Orleans Saints + 3 Points at -120 with Intertops
