2008 S/U 13-3 ATS: 12-4 O/U 7-9

2008 Spread Fact: 3-0 as a Favorite of -8 or higher

2008 Spread Fact: 3-0 as an Underdog

2008 Total Fact: 7-4 Under Totals of 39.5 or less

2009 Season Win total: O/U 8.5

Fantasy Tip: RB Chris Johnson emerged as both a running and passing threat last year and was the Titans best offensive option. Expect the same in 2009.

Team Analysis

Jeff Fisher begins his 14th season as the Head Coach of the Titans. It does not matter who Tennessee is playing; with Fisher at the helm, the Titans will always have the coaching edge. Last season, the Titans held the NFL’s best regular season record at 13-3 but got knocked out in the divisional round of the playoffs by Baltimore. Tennessee, like Baltimore, was a nice solid regular-season team but once you hit January, players need to make plays and both teams lacked playmakers on offense. As well as holding an edge in coaching, the Titans have always excelled in Special Teams. Kicker Rob Bironas has a leg both long and accurate while Punter Craig Hentrich allows Fisher to play for field position. My advice to bettors in 2009 is to beware of playing the Titans as favorites. They are always going to be a live dog, due to the coaching advantage and their ability to run the ball on offense, play solid defense and excellent special teams. However last year, everything just broke the Titans’ way and since the NFL is a league of parity, seasons like this don’t often happen in back-to-back years. Remember, just a year ago, Jacksonville was coming off of a 12-4 season and a playoff loss to the Steelers. Not many people predicted that the Jags would only win 5 games in 2008 but if you take a closer look, you will see that the Titans and Jaguars have similar playing styles.

Offensive Analysis

The biggest example of how things broke the Titans way last season is at the quarterback position. Here you have starter Vince Young losing his grip, threatening suicide or whatever the final spin was on that episode, clearing the way for Kerry Collins, the grizzled old veteran alcoholic, to come off the bench and he turns out to be just what Tennessee needs. He brought smarts, stability and consistency to the offense and did not make too many mental mistakes. I don’t believe that QB Collins can play at the high level two years in a row at this stage of his career. The game plan of the Titans focuses on running the ball with RB Chris Johnson as often as possible, mixing in screen passes and intermediate passes. Despite winning 13 games last year, they ranked #27 in passing. The only playmaker on offense was rookie RB Johnson and as they did not sign any playmakers during the offseason, we can expect to see the same Titans grinding it out on offense.

Defensive Analysis

The defense loses DE Albert Haynesworth (the Redskins once again overpaying for a player). The Titans also lose coordinator Jim Schwartz, who now has the task of trying to make the Lions competitive. Haynesworth’s ability will be missed, as well as the fact that opponents had to double-team him, freeing up other defenders to make tackles. The good news is that all of the other starters return in 2009. You can expect the Titans defense to still be very good as they have solid depth and will play fast and physical with defenders flying to the ball. One of my favorite players in the league is CB Cortland Finnegan. Unheralded out of college and small in stature this guy is a ball hawk who loves to hit and doesn’t back down from anyone, including his own teammates.