Titans vs. Bills: Spread Info, Line and Predictions

The Buffalo Bills host the Tennessee Titans this weekend. Both teams are coming off badly needed wins, albeit over suspect competition.

The Bills knocked off the Arizona Cardinals, and the Titans toppled the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two teams, however, have fallen far from the day of the Music City Miracle—there will be no playoff meeting this year.

Put simply, Buffalo is 3-3 and not very good.  Tennessee is 2-4 and not very good.  If fantasy sports and gambling didn't exist, this game would draw less interest than a M*A*S*H* rerun.  Happily, those two pastimes are alive and well, and ready to make this dog important to a lot of us. Let's get to the preview.

Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo, N.Y.

When: Sunday, October 21, 1 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS (check local listings)

Stream: Click here.

The Spread: Buffalo -3.5 (via MGM-Mirage)

Since home-field advantage is worth three points, this game is a pick 'em. It means that if you have strong feelings about a Bills win, you might want to think about going with the moneyline (-110) rather than worrying about a cover.

Over/Under: 46.5

In terms of points allowed per game in 2012, Buffalo and Tennessee rank 31st and 32nd in the NFL, respectively.  Let me say that again: Buffalo and Tennessee rank 31st and 32nd in the NFL in points Allowed.  If you'd like me to say it again, let me know.

Injuries

(From CBSSports.com) Buffalo
Date	Pos	Player	Injury		Status
10/18/12	DE	Mark Anderson	Knee		Did not practice. Questionable for Week 7 vs. Tennessee
10/18/12	DE	Spencer Johnson	Ankle		Limited practice. Questionable for Week 7 vs. Tennessee
10/18/12	CB	Terrence McGee	Knee		Did not practice. Questionable for Week 7 vs. Tennessee
10/18/12	S	Da'Norris Searcy	Ankle		Limited practice. Questionable for Week 7 vs. Tennessee
10/18/12	WR	Brad Smith	Chest		Full practice. Probable for Week 7 vs. Tennessee
10/18/12	DT	Kyle Williams	Ankle		Limited practice. Questionable for Week 7 vs. Tennessee
10/18/12	DE	Mario Williams	Wrist		Full practice. Probable for Week 7 vs. Tennessee

Tennessee

Date	Pos	Player	Injury		Status
10/18/12	LB	Patrick Bailey	Hand		Full practice. Probable for Week 7 at Buffalo
10/18/12	CB	Tommie Campbell	Ankle		Did not practice. Questionable for Week 7 at Buffalo
10/18/12	DT	Jurrell Casey	Shoulder		Did not practice. Questionable for Week 7 at Buffalo
10/18/12	QB	Jake Locker	Left shoulder		Limited practice. Out for Week 7 at Buffalo
10/18/12	LB	Colin McCarthy	Ankle		Did not practice. Questionable for Week 7 at Buffalo
10/18/12	RB	Javon Ringer	Knee		Did not practice. Out for Week 7 at Buffalo

Fantasy Big Plays

Kenny Britt, TEN WR

Britt is slowly becoming more and more familiar with the Titans offense, and Matt Hasselbeck likes him as a target.  Buffalo's pass defense is giving up 27.3 fantasy points to opposing WRs per week, including 11 touchdowns.

Fred Jackson, BUF RB

Jackson is fully healthy and while the annoying timeshare with C.J. Spiller will continue, Tennessee is giving up more than 400 yards per game to opposing offenses. There should be plenty of points to go around.

Keys to Victory

Buffalo

Between Jackson and Spiller, the Bills should be able to run the ball on the Titans. That's good, because the less Ryan "Pickspatrick" throws it right now, the better.

The Bills' formidable rushing attack will allow them to control the clock, which is also good, because Buffalo's defense is apt to be vulnerable to a veteran like Hasselbeck.  That said, if the Bills can run the ball and the Titans can't, Hasselbeck may not be enough to save them.

Tennessee

To put it bluntly, Tennessee is going to need turnovers and probably defensive scores to win.  The Titans need to stop Spiller and Jackson from running the ball at will, which will force Ryan Fitzpatrick to throw the ball.  The way Ryan has been throwing lately, the Titans can turn some of those tosses into picks.

A big day from the Tennessee passing game is plausible, too, whereas even a cameo from Chris Johnson is not a reasonable thing to suggest right now.

Prediction

Tennessee has been abysmal on the road this year, going 0-3 both straight up and against the spread.  Buffalo has played reasonably well at home, especially on offense.  

Buffalo 34, Tennessee 24