Falcons vs. Titans: NFL Week 8 Odds, Picks & Player Prop Bets

I’m Andrew Erickson, and I’m here to guide you through each game on the NFL slate, offering insights and recommendations on sides, totals, and player props that you can quickly turn into a big single-game parlay. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just dipping your toes into the world of NFL wagering this primer is designed to provide you with valuable perspectives and picks for the upcoming NFL week of action. Here are my top picks for Falcons vs. Titans.

NFL Betting Primer: Falcons vs. Titans

Tennessee Titans (-3) vs. Atlanta Falcons

When these lines first came out, the Titans as 1-point home underdogs immediately jumped out to me. Then the line moved to Titans +3 as money poured in on the Atlanta Falcons with the Titans dealing with question marks at QB. Ryan Tannehill is not expected to start, and the plan is to use both Malik Willis and Will Levis.

#Falcons are 3-point road favorites over the #Titans heading into Week 8. Tennessee will likely be starting either Malik Willis or Will Levis at QB.

Mike Vrabel is also 5-0 coming off a bye with the #Titans.

Atlanta shouldn't expect an easy W on Sunday. That defense is legit.

— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) October 25, 2023

Still, I want to back Mike Vrabel's squad at home. Vrabel has this certain aura around him in full Mike Tomlin fashion that he wills his way to win games that his team has no position winning. With the recent Kevin Byard trade, the headline with the Titans team is they are tanking/selling, etc. Nobody wants to back this team.

Buy.

This team plays vastly differently at home than it does on the road. 27 points per game at home with wins against the Chargers/Bengals.

And as I noted last week, the Atlanta Falcons and Desmond Ridders are also a completely different team on the road than at home. Obviously, Ridder and company came away with the win, but they were BEGGING to give the Buccaneers the win/cover. Ridder turned the ball over three times in the red zone.

And the Titans’ strengths of run defense can force Ridder to have to beat them, which should have worked last week for the Buccaneers. However, there's no denying that Ridder's fourth-ranked turnover-worthy play rate (15 total this season, tied for 1st) suggests that the Titans should come away with the turnover battle.

In 5 games without Ryan Tannehill last season, the Titans went 3-2 ATS, 4-1 toward the under.

Atlanta is 6-1 toward the under this season. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Ridder on the road is an under machine - 6-0 toward the under in 6 career road starts. And the combination of Levis/Willis taking sack after sack will limit any ceiling the Titans offense will have against an underrated Falcons defense. 5th best red zone unit and the third-best third-down conversion rate.

Over on Jonnu Smith’s receiving yards prop. The Buccaneers are tough on tight ends, hence the under on Smith last week. He saw three targets on the opening drive and was then never heard of again. That’s despite him hitting the over in every game he has played as a starter this season. Look for the Falcons to expose the Titans secondary that will be without safety Kevin Byard after he was traded to the Eagles.

My Picks:

Under 36.5 (-108 DraftKings Sportsbook)
Titans +3 (-104 FanDuel Sportsbook)

My Props:

Jonnu Smith over 31.5 receiving yards (-115 BetMGM)

What is Betting Against the Spread?

Betting "against the spread" refers to the act of choosing the winning team based on a numeric handicap placed on the team that oddsmakers believe is superior, rather than picking the outright winner. For example, if the Rams face the Bengals, and oddsmakers set the spread at Rams -3.5, you would need Los Angeles to win by 4 or more points in order to cash your Rams bet.

What is an Over/Under Bet?

Over/Under is a wager based on how many points you think will be scored in a specific game. Oddsmakers set the total, and bettors decide whether the final score will be higher or lower than that number. If an Over/Under is set at 44.5 points and you bet Over, you will need the combined score of both teams to be 45 points or higher to win your bet.

What is a Moneyline Bet?

A moneyline bet involves choosing which team you believe will win a specific matchup. The moneyline favorite carries a minus designation, like -130. This means that you need to wager $130 to earn a $100 profit. Conversely, the underdog carries a plus designation, like +110. This means that you win $110 in profit on a $100 bet.