Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers Odds

Two teams heading in opposite directions face off in San Diego Sunday. The Tennessee Titans and the San Diego Chargers both started the season 2-2. However, the Titans have won three in a row since then while the Chargers have lost three straight.

If you’re a history buff you might agree with NFL odds makers that there is hope for San Diego this week. After all, the Chargers have won seven in a row over the Tennessee franchise. NFL odds makers have listed the Chargers as a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 44.5.

Starting slow is nothing new for the Chargers, but concerns are certainly growing following their performances the last two weeks. San Diego has dug itself a 17-point hole each of the last two weeks before getting it going, and it was too little too late both times.

San Diego has been the victim of turnovers all season, and last week’s loss to New England, when it had four first-half turnovers, was no exception. In fact, the Chargers have committed an AFC-worst 18 turnovers. This has been magnified by the San Diego defense being unable to forced a single turnover over the last three weeks.

All these giveaways have been too much for even the NFL’s top-ranked offense to overcome.

Quarterback Philip Rivers has helped the Chargers average 422.7 yards of offense per game while throwing for a league-best 2,344 yards. Just seven games in, Rivers is on pace to beat Dan Marino’s single-season passing yardage record of 5,084. But owning that record would be a hollow victory if the Chargers, who were among the favorites to reach the Super Bowl, don’t even make the playoffs.

Rivers could be poised for another big game against a Tennessee defense that ranks 23rd in the league against the pass (230.4). However, it is worth noting that this unit has come up with a league-best 12 interceptions.

The Titans are 0-6 against the spread in their last six meetings with San Diego, which includes a 42-17 home loss last year.

Tennessee’s opportunistic defense is a big reason why it ranks second in the NFL in scoring (28.4) despite being the league’s 24th-best offense (302.1), but the Titans know they can’t always rely on big defensive plays to find the win column.

Both of Tennessee’s quarterbacks are banged up. Vince Young sat out last week’s game against Philadelphia with knee and ankle sprains and and is listed as questionable for Sunday. Backup Kerry Collins is battling a torn tendon on the middle finger of his throwing hand and is listed as questionable as well.

With both signal callers at less than 100 percent, the Titans may have to lean on All-Pro running back Chris Johnson. Johnson was held to just 66 yards in last week’s win, but he rushed for 142 yards in last season’s meeting with the Chargers. Johnson currently ranks third in the league with 662 rushing yards.

It is worth noting that Tennessee is 11-2 against the spread in its last 13 games as an underdog of 3.5 to 10.0 points.

Make sure you’re betting who World Champion handicapper Jimmy Boyd is betting this week!