The Tennessee Titans faced off against division rivals the Houston Texans this past Sunday, clinching a 42-36 victory after a rollercoaster game.
Tennessee’s 5-0 takeover continues at breakneck speed. The team hasn’t experienced this momentum since 2008, when they rocketed into the season with 10-straight wins.
Will this year’s streak be as long-lived?
Bettors are realizing these wins might not be a fluke.
High tides continue for the Titans with a Week 6 victory
Tennessee’s Week 6 surprise victory over the Buffalo Bills had them basking in fresh confidence.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill and rusher Derrick Henry combined for a colossal force that steered the Titans’ ship to another victory.
The Tanne-thrill intensified with his 364 passing yard performance – his new season record. Explosive last-second action sent the game into overtime when he threw a quick touchdown pass.
Tannehill added a fumble and an interception to his stats on Sunday. Conversely, the Titans’ red-zone scoring percentage continues to rank as one of the highest in the league, trailing only the Seattle Seahawks.
Running back Henry scored two touchdowns during his 212 total rushing yards. Almost half of those yards came from a single 94-yard touchdown run.
Subsequently, the game-winning play saw Henry at the helm with a direct snap into the end zone. Henry is now the first player in NFL history to record a 200+ rushing yard game for three consecutive seasons.
The Titans secured another record, becoming the first team to have a quarterback throw for over 350 yards and a running back rush for more than 200 yards in the same game.
Houston’s losing record predicted their road loss
Houston’s start to the 2020 season has been shaky, to say the least.
The Texans kicked off Week 5 by firing six-year head coach Bill O’Brien after he fumbled the season to four-straight losses.
Things were beginning to look up last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Interim head coach Romeo Crennel regrouped and recharged leadership, guiding the Texans to their first victory.
Crennel’s saving grace ran short against Tennessee. The Texans were on the up until they missed an integral two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter.
This led to the tides shifting once again in the Titans’ favor. The game was ultimately pushed into overtime, where Houston met its demise.
The Texans stand a chance at redemption in Week 17 when the teams face off again, this time on Houston’s home turf.
Tennessee Titans Week 6 betting trends
The week prior, only 25% of all DraftKings point spread bets were wagered on the Titans for their matchup against the Bills. Bettors found a newfound confidence in the team since then.
Halfway through Week 6, 82% of FanDuel bets were already placed on Tennessee to beat the spread.
Despite a strong Week 5 showing, the Titans were only three-point favorites at most books.
BetMGM’s spread opened at -3 and closed with an even stronger inclination toward the Titans at -4. Meanwhile, totals opened at 55 and closed at 52.5. Here’s how the betting trends looked at BetMGM sportsbook:
| Teams | Point Spread | Handle % | Bet % | Over/Under | Handle % | Bet % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEN Titans | -4 | 61.5% | 55.2% | Over 52.5 | 30.3% | 58.2% |
| HOU Texans | +4 | 38.5% | 44.8% | Under 52.5 | 69.7% | 41.8% |
At DraftKings, a sizeable 80% of all moneyline bets and total handle were wagered on the Titans.
| Teams | Point Spread | Handle % | Bet % | Over/Under | Handle % | Bet % | Moneyline | Handle % | Bet % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU Texans | +4 | 34% | 26% | Over 53 | 52% | 72% | +175 | 20% | 20% |
| TEN Titans | -4 | 66% | 74% | Under 53 | 48% | 28% | -200 | 80% | 80% |
The Titans’ next battle on their road to victory
Next week, the Titans defend their record against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Nashville. The battle may well be worth the wait since the Steelers are the only other undefeated team in the AFC.
Originally scheduled for Week 4, this matchup was postponed to Week 7 after Tennessee’s slew of positive COVID-19 tests.
DraftKings’ current odds for the game have the Titans as slight underdogs (+106). The total sits at 51.5 while the spread has the Steelers as two-point favorites.
Offensive line protection will be paramount if Tannehill intends to help Tennessee improve to a 6-0 record.
Will bettors continue to have faith in the Titans as they strive to go 6-0?
