Thursday Night Football: 49ers vs. Titans Odds, Preview, Picks, and Prediction
NFL Week 16 kicks off in Nashville as the Tennessee Titans (9-5) host the San Francisco 49ers (8-6). Follow along as sports betting analyst Nick Galaida breaks down 49ers vs. Titans odds and gives you his Thursday Night Football prediction. Make sure to check out our favorite Tennessee sportsbooks, and if you aren’t in a state with legal sports betting sign up at PrizePicks for a $100 deposit bonus on NFL player props!
49ers vs. Titans NFL Odds
| 49ers Odds | -3 |
| Titans Odds | +3 |
| Over/Under | 44.5 |
| Date | Thursday, Dec 23. |
| Time | 8:20 p.m. ET |
| TV | FOX/NFL Network |
The San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans will open Week 16 of the NFL season on Thursday evening at Nissan Stadium. Entering play, San Francisco is two games behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West division, but currently holds a Wild Card position in the NFC playoff picture. Despite suffering a disappointing loss in Week 15 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee remains in control of their own destiny to win the AFC South. The Titans are also still within striking distance of earning a first round bye in the AFC, sitting only one game behind the Kansas City Chiefs in the standings. Oddsmakers are anticipating a tightly-contested matchup between these two teams trying to improve their postseason position, pricing the 49ers as a field goal favorite on the spread.
49ers
The 49ers enter play on Thursday relatively healthy on offense, with only running back Elijah Mitchell listed as out on the official injury report. Mitchell has been unquestionably San Francisco’s best running back in 2021, but his absence should not be catastrophic for this group, considering the strong play of Jeff Wilson, who has totaled 166 rushing yards over the last two weeks. The 49ers still boast arguably the best offensive line in the NFL, which will enable nearly any running back to find at least moderate success on the ground. Tennessee has been strong against the ground this fall, allowing only 4.3 yards-per-carry, but not all rushing attacks are built equally. San Francisco should win the line of scrimmage in this one, meaning that as long as Jimmy Garoppolo takes care of the ball–the 49ers’ offense should have a strong performance.
On the defensive side of the ball, San Francisco is dealing with a plethora of notable injuries. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga, and defensive lineman Maurice Hurst have each been ruled out for this evening’s contest. Greenlaw has been far from spectacular this season, but Hufanga and Hurst have been integral components of a defense that has been surprisingly mediocre this year. San Francisco has allowed 4.2 yards-per-carry on the ground, and 7.2 yards-per-attempt through the air. The Titans have struggled offensively in recent weeks, failing to score more than 20 points since Week 10, but the 49ers are no guarantee to slow-down anyone–especially when missing key pieces from this defensive unit.
Titans
Tennessee has dealt with a myriad of injuries since the beginning of training camp in 2021. Tonight, they are expected to have Julio Jones back in the lineup after he logged a full practice on Wednesday. However, tackle Taylor Lewan. Guard Rodger Saffold III, and running back Derrick Henry will remain on the sidelines in this one. Defensively, linebacker David Long Jr., and defensive lineman Larrell Murchison are each unavailable as well.
Nevertheless, the injury bug has not been Tennessee’s biggest problem this fall. “(player-popup #ryan-tannehill)Ryan Tannehill”:/players/ryan-tannehill-13557’s inconsistent play is becoming increasingly concerning for the Titans. In his last four games, Tannehill has thrown only two touchdowns against six interceptions. In his last three games, Tannehill has thrown for 93 yards, 191 yards, and 151 yards. Tannehill’s 14 interceptions in 2021 rank 30th in the NFL. His performance under center has significantly inhibited this offense, especially since Henry landed on injured reserve.
The Titans have remained competitive, in large part, due to their defense, which is allowing only an 86.2 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks this fall. Tennessee is also allowing the sixth-fewest yards-per-carry of any team in the league, which will be especially important against a San Francisco offense that loves to run the football.
Thursday Night Football Prediction
Nick Bosa and the rest of San Francisco’s defensive line have a tantalizing matchup in this one against a struggling Tennessee offensive line. Getting pressure into the backfield is going to be a key for a 49ers defense that is banged up in the secondary. Tannehill’s recent struggles make it unlikely that he will be tearing apart the 49ers through the air. Couple the Titans’ likely struggles on the offensive side of the ball with San Francisco’s desire to run the ball, and bettors should expect a lower-scoring affair. Take the under in this one to start Week 16 on a high note.
PICK: Under 44.5 (-110)
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