On Monday Night Football, the Indianapolis Colts will travel to LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee to take on the Titans. This Monday Night Football matchup will kick off at 8:30 PM/ET.
This Monday Night Football matchup features two of the leagues worst offenses. According to NFL Stats, the Titans and the Colts rank 24th and 25th in total yards. Through five weeks, both teams have struggled to establish themselves as contenders in the weak AFC South division. Both teams feature anemic offenses and porous defenses. In this matchup, something has to give. Expect one of these teams to break through and put up some points.
What to make of the Andrew Luckless Colts’ Offense?
The Colts have struggled without Andrew Luck. In his place, however, Jacoby Brissett has played inspired football. Brissett started two games as a rookie for the Patriots, but this year he’s being asked to do a lot more.
Through four games as the starter, Brissett has led the Colts to a 2-3 record. While he’s not an elite quarterback like Andrew Luck, Brissett is a multidimensional athlete with the ability to beat defenses with his feet. Expect Brissett to challenge the Titans’ defense with his legs to help open up the passing game.
If the Colts are to have success this week Titans, then Indianapolis needs to get T.Y. Hilton involved early and often. Last week against the 49ers, Brissett looked to Hilton with a team high nine targets.
Hilton, for his part, had seven receptions for 177 yards. The Titans defense will try to limit Hilton’s impact, but expect Brissett and the Colts offense to have a break out game against a suspect Titans’ defense.
Will Marcus Marriota start for the Titans and does it matter?
No, it doesn’t matter. Even if Marriota starts for the Titans, he’s lacked consistency. On the season, Marriota has thrown only three touchdowns to go along with three interceptions. Coming off an injury, don’t expect Marriota to light the Colts weak secondary on fire.
The poor play at quarterback has forced the Titans to rely heavily on the rushing attack. Whether it’s DeMarco Murray or Derrick Henry, the Titans need the rushing attack involved to have success.
According to NFL Stats, the Titans ground attack ranks ninth in the NFL, while their passing attack ranks 27th in the league. The Titans average 125 yards on the ground per game, while the Colts, and their 16th ranked run defense, are allowing 103 yards per game. Expect the Titans to run the ball a lot with the passing attack continues to struggle.
Titans vs Colts Betting Lines
BetOnline.ag has the Titans favored to win the game by 7.5 points. The over/under on total points scored is n/a. You can read our full BetOnline review here.
My Pick
This matchup is ugly. Both teams are struggling with injuries and starting backups at the most important position in the game. Brissett is a better athlete at quarterback, but there’s still the possibility that Marriota will play. The Titans have been extremely inconsistent this season. The Titans have beaten both Seattle and Jacksonville, but lost to inferior teams as well. Tennessee’s season is a head scratcher for sure and their success against superior opponents makes them all the more confusing.
The Colts, however, are a straight forward team. Indianapolis isnt going to beat superior opponents, but against inferior teams like the Titans, expect a hard fought game. Indianapolis barely beat both the 49ers and the Browns, and got destroyed on the road by Seattle. The best player on both teams, however, might just be T.Y Hilton. If Hilton can get going, then expect the Colts to put up points in this game.
This is an ugly matchup between two very bad teams, but in the end expect the Colts to find a way to do just a little more than their divisional counterpart.
Play: Colts +7.5 @ BetOnline.ag
Indianapolis Colts • Monday Night • Monday Night Football Betting • Tennessee Titans