Titans vs. Falcons Odds: NFL Week 1 Preseason Picks & Predictions

by Nick Galaida (nickgalaida) Last Updated 2021-08-13 20:24:34

NFL betting analyst Nick Galaida previews the Week 1 preseason matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. Follow along as he breaks down the odds and gives two free picks for Friday night’s game. Also don’t miss out on this ridiculous preseason betting promo at Caesars Sportsbook!

Titans vs. Falcons Odds

On Friday evening, the Tennessee Titans and the Atlanta Falcons will each play their first game of the preseason. Oddsmakers have priced the Falcons as slight favorites for this contest, but let’s take a closer look at who is expected to play in this matchup, and where NFL bettors can find value.

Tennessee Titans Preview

The Titans completed arguably the biggest blockbuster trade of the NFL offseason when they acquired star wide receiver Julio Jones from the Atlanta Falcons. Jones has been a limited practice participant in recent weeks and is unlikely to see much playing time in this one, but should be a major contributor once the regular season commences.

Head Coach Mike Vrabel said earlier this week that quarterback Ryan Tannehill is not expected to suit up for this one. The majority of the snaps under center for the Titans will be split between Logan Woodside and Matt Barkley, who are battling for the right to be Tannehill’s backup. Yet, the first week of the preseason usually features a heavy dose of running plays, so 2020 third-round draft pick Darrynton Evans could see plenty of carries as Tennessee looks to evaluate his capabilities as a complementary running back to Derrick Henry. On defense, the Titans will be without their top pick from the 2021 draft, Caleb Farley, but the rest of the team’s young players should see a good amount of playing time.

Atlanta Falcons Preview

If he does play in this game, all eyes will be on first-round pick, Kyle Pitts on Thursday evening for Atlanta. One of the most-hyped players from this summer’s draft class, Pitts has the opportunity to make an immediate impact on the offensive side of the ball for a Falcons team that has Matt Ryan under center and plenty of targets available after shipping off Jones in the offseason.

Ryan is unlikely to see any action on Thursday, but the Falcons will still be in capable hands with signal-caller A.J. McCarron running the offense. One of the more experienced back-up quarterbacks in the league, McCarron should have at least a few opportunities to push the ball downfield while he remains in the game. However, if Atlanta opts for a more conservative play-calling approach, it will be interesting to see if Caleb Huntley and Qadree Ollison are able to make a meaningful impact. The running game is especially unpredictable for the Falcons, considering that they are implementing a new zone-running system in preparation for this fall.

Picks & Predictions

The Titans have already announced that Tannehill and Henry will not suit up for Thursday’s opening game of the preseason. Though Vrabel has alluded to the idea of playing the majority of the other starters for at least a series or two—it seems probable that the reserves will see most of the action here. Woodside and Barkley are in the midst of a backup quarterback battle, but it is rare for there to be much emphasis on the passing attack in the first live game action of the new campaign. Atlanta is working to implement an entirely new system for running the football. The Falcons also seem likely to get starters a few reps, but then turn to their backups for the rest of the game.

Expect both of these teams to prioritize getting out of this game healthy. As we have seen during the Hall of Fame Game, and last night’s action across the NFL, there will be a strong commitment to safe, conservative play-calls, which means a disproportionate number of running plays and a low-scoring affair.

Betting on the NFL’s preseason slate is notoriously unpredictable and susceptible to far more randomness than the regular season due to the uncertainty surrounding game plans, but a small wager on the under makes sense here.

Pick: Under 38 (-110)

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