Titans vs. Texans predictions: NFL experts make Week 17 picks
The Tennessee Titans will head to NRG Stadium in Week 17 to take on their division rival, the Houston Texans, in a game that has playoff implications for the Titans.
With a win, the Titans will clinch their first AFC South crown since the 2008 season, but the Texans have an opportunity to play spoilers, as a win could not only stop Tennessee from securing the division, but also making the playoffs altogether.
This is the second meeting between these two teams this season. In the first contest, the Titans needed a touchdown late in regulation to send the game to overtime where they eventually sealed the win, 42-36.
As you’d expect, the 10-5 Titans (-7.5) are sizable road favorites over the 4-11 Texans for this game, but are NFL experts from different media outlets rolling mostly with Tennessee or Houston?
Find out now as we compile picks to see where they stand for this Week 17 showdown.
USA TODAY's Week 17 picks
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
We start off with the picks from the experts of USA TODAY:
Expert | Pick | Score |
Jarrett Bell | Titans | 30-21 |
Nate Davis | Titans | 31-13 |
Jori Epstein | Titans | 24-21 |
Mike Jones | Titans | 27-22 |
Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz | Titans | 35-24 |
Lorenzo Reyes | Titans | 30-20 |
Tom Schad | Titans | 34-28 |
ESPN's Week 17 picks
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The picks from the folks over at ESPN are as follows:
Expert | Pick |
Matt Bowen | Titans |
Mike Clay | Titans |
Dan Graziano | Texans |
Mina Kimes | Titans |
Jason Reid | Titans |
Laura Rutledge | Titans |
Kevin Seifert | Titans |
Sam Wickersham | Titans |
Damien Woody | Titans |
CBS Sports' Week 17 picks
Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
Now, we take a look at the expert picks from CBS Sports:
Expert | Pick |
Pete Prisco | Titans (31-27) |
Jason La Canfora | Texans |
Will Brinson | Titans |
Jared Dubin | Titans |
Ryan Wilson | Titans |
John Breech | Titans |
Dave Richard | Titans |
Jamey Eisenberg | Titans |
Pete Prisco, who has the Titans winning 31-27, had this to say about the game between Tennessee and Houston:
If the Titans win, they win the AFC South. Pretty simple. But this is a second straight road game, and the defense is awful. But the good news is the Texans defense is just as bad. Look for Derrick Henry to run his team into the postseason but Deshaun Watson will keep the Texans around.
MMQB's Week 17 picks
(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Here's where the experts over at Sports Illustrated's MMQB stand:
Expert | Pick |
Albert Breer | Titans |
Andrew Brandt | Titans |
Conor Orr | Titans |
Gary Gramling | Titans |
Jenny Vrentas | Titans |
Mitch Goldich | Titans |
Sporting News' Week 17 picks
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Vinnie Iyer - Titans 27, Texans 20:
The Titans will rebound from getting ripped in Green Bay but it won't be easy with Deshaun Watson determined to play. The Texans' defense is terrible all-around (see the Vikings, Lions and Jaguars) and that will help Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill get back on track big-time. But Watson, David Johnson and Brandin Cooks will bring it again and the defense will respond to J.J. Watt's call to save some face.
Bill Bender - Titans 31, Texans 23:
The Titans still control their playoff destiny, and they will need a win against the rival Texans to get there. Houston ranks 31st in run defense, and Derrick Henry needs 223 yards to get to 2,000 rushing yards for the season. It's not impossible.
Gregg Rosenthal's Week 17 pick
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com - Titans 44, Texans 30:
The Titans have consumed fortyburgers on four occasions this season, including a Week 6 overtime win over the Texans. This should be good eating, with the AFC South on the line and the Texans' defense making Mitchell Trubisky and Brandon Allen look like Hall of Famers recently.
Final expert tally: Titans 31, Texans 2
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Of the 33 expert picks we compiled here, 31 of them are going with the Titans, while just two are rolling with the Texans. Tennessee and Houston will kickoff at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday.
