The Tennessee Titans are set to kick off the 2023 season with a road bout against the New Orleans Saints. Mike Vrabel is entering his sixth year as the head coach of the Titans, while Dennis Allen is in Year 2 of his tenure as the head coach of the Saints.
After securing two straight division titles, the Titans went 7-10 in 2022 and failed to make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Saints also finished with a 7-10 record last season, though, they were only one game behind the division-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With the Titans and Saints looking to get off to a hot start in Week 1, here are a few bets and predictions for the upcoming matchup.
Titans vs Saints Odds
NFL odds used for this Tennessee vs New Orleans preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook and are current as of August 18 at 4:50 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Saints (-160) • Titans (+135)
- Spread: Saints -3.5 (-105) • Titans +3.5 (-120)
- Total Points: Over 41.5 (-110) • Under 41.5 (-115)
- Implied Score: Saints 22.5, Titans 19
Titans vs Saints Predictions
Score Pick: Saints 23, Titans 17
Even with Alvin Kamara being suspended to begin the season for the Saints, they possess a much more dynamic offense with Derek Carr under center and Michael Thomas back from injury. Chris Olave is expected to take another step forward in his development after excelling as a rookie in 2022.
The aerial attack of the Saints should be much improved this season, and the Titans’ pass defense were ranked 28th in DVOA a season ago. While the Titans notably added DeAndre Hopkins to their offense, everything will still seemingly run through Derrick Henry.
With a typically strong run defense, the Saints can limit Henry on the ground and force Ryan Tannehill to beat them on the road, which heavily favors New Orleans in Week 1.
Titans vs Saints Best Bets & Props
Saints -3.5 (-105)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
While Carr isn’t viewed as a premier signal-caller in the NFL, he’s certainly an upgrade over what the Saints had in 2022. And even with Kamara sidelined due to suspension, the Saints added Jamaal Williams – who led the NFL in touchdowns last season – to be the No. 2 option out of the backfield.
The secondary of the Titans won’t have an answer for a new-look Saints passing attack and New Orleans’ defense is poised for success against Tannehill and company. The Titans have lost in Week 1 in two consecutive years under Vrabel, and there’s a good chance they lose by more than a field goal to begin the upcoming season.
Saints Over 22.5 (-112)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Quarterback changes can have an instant effect for teams in the NFL and it’s clear to see the Saints are much better at the position with Carr now in New Orleans. Even though he’s not an elite quarterback, Carr has a dynamic duo in Olave and Thomas, along with a tight-end pairing of Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill.
While the Titans allowed the fewest rushing yards per game in 2022, they did give up 21.1 points per game (tied for 18th in the NFL), which goes to show just how bad their secondary was. Nothing indicates that they’ve fixed their pass-defense woes, paving the way for the Saints to muster up at least 23 points in the opener.
Under 41.5 (-115)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
The expectation is for the Saints to come out firing in Week 1 with Carr having a solid assortment of weapons at his disposal. That being said, taking the Under is still a wise choice for a game that has the third-lowest projected total among the Week 1 contests.
As for the Titans, it’s hard to envision them coming out of the gate hot offensively despite acquiring Hopkins. Tennessee averaged the fifth-fewest points per game (17.5) in 2022, and it’s tough to put trust into a Tannehill-led offense to begin the season.
Titans vs Saints Same Game Parlay
Titans vs Saints SGP (+1900)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.25 Units
- Under 40.5 alternate points (+100)
- Saints -5.5 alternate spread (+125)
- Each team total Over 13.5 points (-175)
Considering that I predicted the score to be 23-17 in favor of the Saints, I took the alternate Under of 40.5 points in this contest. On top of that, I added the Saints to win by at least six points at home over the Titans with a seemingly revamped offense.
Lastly, each team should score at least 14 points in this game while also falling short of reaching 41-plus total points in Week 1.
