Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans Divisional Game Odds & Free Picks

<p> The Tennessee Titans somewhat surprisingly won the top seed in the AFC playoffs and now look to take<br />
advantage of it when they host the Bengals for a divisional-round bout Saturday afternoon in<br />
Nashville. Tennessee started well enough this season, then played through the absence of running<br />
back Derrick Henry. Now it appears Henry will return for this game. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is<br />
coming off its first postseason victory in 30 years! The Titans are favored by three and a hook<br />
for this one; how are we playing this game with our free NFL playoffs betting pick?</p>
<h2> NFL Playoff Betting Lines</h2>
<p> The NFL playoff betting odds opened Tennessee as a three-point home favorite for<br />
this game, with an over/under of right around 47. Early betting action then bumped the Titans to<br />
-3.5, and that total to 47.5. According to Sagarin's NFL ratings at sagarin.com, Tennessee<br />
should be favored by three points for this match-up. Bengals-Titans NFL Playoffs Betting Preview<br />
Cincinnati reached this AFC divisional round by holding off the Raiders in a wild-card game last<br />
week 26-19. The Bengals spotted Las Vegas an early field goal but used a 13-0 run to lead 20-13<br />
at the half.</p>
<p> Cincinnati then scored the first three points of the second half, let the Raiders<br />
get back within one score with three minutes left but held on for the victory and the cover as a<br />
six-point favorite. In the end, the Bengals allowed Vegas to drive to the Cincinnati 9-yard line<br />
but held on four downs. The Bengals actually got out-gained by the Raiders 385-308 and out-rushed<br />
103-83 but won the turnover battle 2-0, turning one takeaway into a field goal, then sealing the<br />
game with the other. A few weeks ago, Cincinnati clinched its playoff spot with a three-game<br />
winning streak, then lost a meaningless game to Cleveland in the regular-season finale. But the<br />
Bengals are not running the ball as they should. Over their last six games, they've been<br />
out-rushed five times, averaging just 83 yards per. And that's an alarming trend for playoff<br />
football. Tennessee, meanwhile, reached this divisional round by going 12-5 this season to earn<br />
the top seed in the AFC.</p>
<p> The Titans then enjoyed last week off. Tennessee started 2-2 this<br />
season, then won six in a row. But they also lost Henry along the way. The Titans later struggled<br />
through a 1-3 stretch but won their last three games, including a 28-25 decision at Houston two<br />
weeks ago. And with a bit of help from elsewhere, Tennessee owns home-field advantage for these<br />
AFC playoffs. The Titans scored the first 21 points of the game against the Texans, allowed that<br />
lead to leak to three points in the fourth quarter held on for the win but pissed away the cover<br />
as 11-point favorites. Tennessee out-gained Houston that day 405-353, out-rushed the Texans<br />
124-64, and won the time of possession by a 34:26 split.</p>
<p> So the Titans out-gained four of their last five opponents and out- rushed each of their last seven foes, even without Henry. Tennessee<br />
lost Henry when he broke a bone in his foot back on Halloween. The Titans struggled on the ground<br />
for their next couple of games, then found their footing and averaged 155 YPG rushing over their<br />
last seven games. And now it looks like Henry will return. These two teams met most recently back<br />
in November of last season, a 31-20 Cincinnati home win. The Bengals led that game 10-0 early and<br />
24-7 early in the fourth quarter, on their way toward victory. Also, that game played over a<br />
total of 49.5 when the teams combined for 27 fourth-quarter points.</p>
<h2>Common Opponents</h2>
<p>These two teams played five common opponents this season; the Jets,<br />
Jaguars, Chiefs, Steelers, and 49ers. Tennessee played 4-2 both SU and ATS vs. those five foes,<br />
at +23 yards per game, while Cincinnati played 4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS, and -2 YPG against that slate of<br />
opponents.</p>
<h2>NFL Playoffs Betting Trends</h2>
<p>Over the last six NFL divisional playoff rounds, the home<br />
teams are 19-5 SU, 14-9-1 ATS. Over the last six NFL divisional playoff rounds, the favorites are<br />
18-6 SU, 13-10-1 ATS. Cincinnati is 5-2, both SU and ATS against teams that made the playoffs<br />
this season. Tennessee is 4-3, both SU and ATS against teams that made the playoff this season.</p>
<h2>Totals Report</h2>
<p>The Under is 9-8 in Bengals games this season, which averaged 49 total<br />
points. Last week's game against the Raiders then played under a total of 49. The Under is 9-8<br />
in Titans games this season, which averaged 45 points. The Under was 4-2 in the NFL playoffs last<br />
week.</p>