Jacksonville Jaguars predictions: Do NFL experts think Titans make playoff berth tough?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a familiar place: a win against the Tennessee Titans away from clinching the AFC South and the playoff berth that comes with it.

They were in the same situation last year and won in front of their home fans in rowdy Duval. This year's season finale will be played in Nashville.

The Jags (9-7) snapped a four-game losing streak last week. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence missed the 26-0 win over the Carolina Panthers with a sprained shoulder. He wasn't needed as Travis Etienne ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns while Josh Allen set the franchise's sack record, while backup QB C.J. Beathard went 17 of 24 for 178 yards in Lawrence's stead. They could also be getting Christian Kirk back.

The Titans (5-11) have lost three in a row after dropping last week's game 26-3 to the Houston Texans. Rookie quarterback Will Levis left in the second quarter with a foot injury. If he can't go Sunday, veteran Ryan Tannehill will be in charge of getting the ball to Derrick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins.

The Jaguars control their own playoff destiny. If they lose, they cannot win the division but still could make the playoffs if the Pittsburgh Steelers lose Saturday and the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Denver Broncos.

Will the Jags make it easy for themselves? Here's a look at what NFL reporters and analysts predict will happen:

Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY: Jaguars 30-20

"This is a big game for Jacksonville: essentially, they beat the Titans and they win the AFC South. Will Levis may not play and Tennessee’s offense has been woefully unproductive with Ryan Tannehill under center. The Jags should win comfortably."

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Jaguars 23-13

"The Jaguars' defense and running game saved them at the right time in a great smash spot against the Panthers. That bodes well for them to come together as a dangerous complete AFC South-winning playoff team for a second straight season with the probable gritty return of Trevor Lawrence. The Titans are feisty under Mike Vrabel, but there's no longer enough there to compete as hard as they would like."

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Jaguars 23-16

"The Jaguars have had trouble in Nashville in their history, but that won't be a factor here. Even if Trevor Lawrence can't play, the Jaguars will do enough to find a way to win this game. The defense will come up big, no matter if it's Will Levis or Ryan Tannehill for the Titans. Jaguars win it and win the division."

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: Jaguars 20-14

"They’re getting it together in time for another division title."

Nick Suss, Nashville Tennessean: Jaguars 23-13

"This feels like the kind of game that'll be close for three quarters, but the Jaguars will be able to pull away late. This Titans season ends with another hard-fought loss that makes fans consider how things could have been different if the full roster were available, but it will be a loss nonetheless."

Safid Deen, USA TODAY: Jaguars 24-17

"Trevor Lawrence returns from a one-game absence and leads the Jaguars back into the playoffs for the second straight season. It’s been a grind for Jacksonville, losing four straight games down the stretch before beating Carolina last week. The Jaguars won’t have it easy against the Titans but should prevail."

Tom Blair, NFL.com: Jaguars 24-17

Of the five pickers on NFL.com, only Gennaro Filice picked the Titans to pull of the upset.

"The Titans have been generally frisky even in losses, with seven of their defeats coming by eight points or fewer," wrote Blair. "But while Ryan Tannehill (if he starts for the injured Will Levis) and Derrick Henry would surely love to get one more W in Tennessee, their offseason begins Sunday afternoon no matter what happens. I'm banking on Trevor Lawrence (who was back at practice on Wednesday), Travis Etienne and Doug Pederson doing what they need to do to keep playing into January."

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Jaguars 20-17

"It’s a pretty straight-forward scenario for the Jaguars. Win, and they take the AFC South. Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) continues to battle late-season injuries, and this is a chance for the Titans to play spoiler at home. Tennessee is 4-3 S/U at home, and all three losses were by three points. This will not be easy for Jacksonville."

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Jaguars 27-17

"The Jaguars snapped a four-game losing streak in Week 17. A win clinches the Jags the AFC South title. Could be an unceremonious end in Tennessee for Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill in what’s been a lost season for the Titans."

John Breech, CBS Sports: Jaguars 23-16

"The problem for the Titans here is that if you want to beat the Jaguars, you really need to be able to throw the ball. The Jags rank near the bottom of the NFL when it comes to stopping the pass, but the Titans aren't exactly built to take advantage of that. The Titans are averaging just 182.2 passing yards per game, which ranks 28th in the league."

Chris Simms, Pro Football Talk: Jaguars 24-20

Jaguars-Titans odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, January 4.

• Spread: Jaguars (-3.5)

• Over/under: 39.5 points

• Moneyline: Jaguars -190, Titans +155

How can I watch Jaguars vs. Titans?

• Date: Sunday, January 7

• Time: 1 p.m.

• TV: CBS

• Streaming: Paramount+ (7-day free trial), NFL+ (out-of-market only), fuboTV (7-day free trial), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)

Jaguars-Titans will kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday, January 7 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

The game will air on CBS. Kevin Harlan will handle the play-by-play with Trent Green as the analyst. Streaming options include fuboTV, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Jaguars schedule

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Jaguars vs Titans predictions: NFL experts pick Week 18 game