With just two weeks left in the NFL season, seemingly every game left on the schedule has some type of playoff implication. In fact, thirteen of this week’s sixteen games have direct playoff implications, arguably none more important than the Steelers at Titans. The game opened up at Tennessee minus one but the public has pounded the Steelers like it’s already been played as the Steelers are now two point faves.
Big line moves late in the season are the norm, we saw it last week in the Atlanta/Tampa Bay matchup when Jeff Garcia was unable to go for the Bucs. What was a solid three or minus three -120 flew to 5 of 5.5 at most Vegas and offshore properties. The Falcons eventually won by three in OT in what turned out to be a Sunday bloodbath for the squares.
While most big line moves are brought on by changes at quarterback, the Steeler/Titan move seems to be fueled by the injury to Tennessee DT Albert Haynesworth. Possibly with good reason as Haynesworth is the Titans All Pro run stopper who also has chipped in with 8.5 sacks.
How important is Haynesworth to the Titan defense and overall success ??? The Titans are 28-10 in the last 38 games that Haynesworth has started, 2-8 in the last ten games he hasn’t. Last year Haynesworth missed three games and the Titans went 0-3 straight up.
Added to the mix that DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (31 sacks the prior three years) will miss the rest of the regular season after minor groin surgery and the recent Titan problems on offense and there’s a public perception that the Titans are ripe to be picked but ……
before you borrow against your tax return or withdraw what’s left in your 401K, remember that the Titans are still 12-2 SU and 11-2-1 ATS and there’s not a better coach in the NFL getting points (15-8 L23 as a dog, 5-1 L6 as home dog) than Jeff Fisher. Proceed with caution!
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