The Miami Dolphins have won seven games in a row and are looking for an eighth to keep their hopes of reaching the playoffs alive. The Tennessee Titans, who are nervously checking their rearview mirror as the Colts chase them in the AFC South, stand in their way of extending that remarkable streak.
This Sunday make sure you study our NFL betting picks and predictions for the Miami Dolphins vs. Tennessee Titans.
Dolphins vs Titans odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
We’ve not seen much movement in the lines so far with the Titans remaining 3.5-point favorites since opening. The total has increased by half a point to 40 from 39.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until kickoff and be sure to check out the full NFL odds before placing your bets.
Dolphins vs Titans predictions
- Prediction: Dolphins +3.5 (-110)
- Prediction: Under 40 (-110)
- Best bet: A.J. Brown Over 67.5 receiving yards (-115)
Predictions made on 12/30/2021 at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for NFL Week 17, here are two of the best welcome bonuses available:
USA: Sign up with Caesars and get your first bet matched up to $1,001! Claim Now
Canada: Bet $1, get $100 in free bets when you sign up with BetVictor! Sign Up Now
Dolphins vs Titans game info
• Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
• Date: Sunday, January 2, 2022
• Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS
Dolphins at Titans betting preview
Weather
Monitor gametime conditions with our live NFL weather info and learn how weather impacts NFL betting.
Key injuries
Dolphins: Will Fuller V WR (Out), Jason McCourty DB (Out), Greg Little T (Out).
Titans: Derrick Henry RB (Out), Caleb Farley CB (Out), Bud Dupree LB (Out), Julio Jones WR (Out).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Miami Dolphins are 6-1-1 against the spread in their past eight games. Find more NFL betting trends for Dolphins vs. Titans.
Dolphins vs Titans picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
Midway through the season, the Dolphins and Titans couldn’t have looked more different from their current selves.
Through seven games, Titans RB Derrick Henry was unstoppable. He was playing at arguably the best level he’s ever played at, putting up incredible numbers every week until an injury in Week 8 saw his season ended, although there is hope that he could return in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins looked dreadful. They won their season opener against the Patriots and then lost the ensuing seven games, bringing head coach Brian Flores’ job into question. They incredibly flipped the narrative and won seven in a row, becoming the first team to ever have seven-game winning and losing streaks within the same season. Now sitting on an 8-7 record they’re third in the AFC East and one win behind both the Bills and Patriots.
Since Henry's season-ending injury, it’s been a very mixed bag for the Titans. They’ve had some big wins (vs. San Francisco in Week 16) but they’ve also lost to the Texans and Steelers. The loss of any star player will create a big impact but Henry’s absence has robbed Tennessee of a key part of its identity.
D’Onta Foreman has stepped up his game, but he can’t quite replicate Henry’s production. Jeremy McNichols and Dontrell Hilliard have something to offer but they don’t fit easily into the gulf that Henry left. Receivers A.J. Brown and Julio Jones have also missed considerable time this season, although Brown is now back, going to 145 yards and a touchdown last week.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is looking calmer and more assured by the week, while Jaylen Waddle has exploded and looks like the alpha wideout Miami has been searching for over the past few years.
Offensively, these teams rank similarly in terms of weighted offensive DVOA, with the Titans 22nd and Dolphins 23rd. Defensively, the Titans are ranked 12th in weighted defensive DVOA compared to the Dolphins at seventh. Brian Flores has done a brilliant job in getting this defense back to its 2020 form, keeping three of the last four opponents to 10 or fewer points.
The Dolphins are playing smarter football right now. They’re surgical in the way they take teams apart and I’m backing them to win outright in Tennessee.
Prediction: Dolphins +3.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The line of 40 looks just about right. With it feeling so close, it’s essential that we look to trends and see if there’s anything in the numbers that could inform our predictions.
We know that the Under is 4-0 in the Dolphins' past four road games. It’s also 4-0 in the Titans' past four games on grass and 4-1 in their past five games, overall. With the numbers pointing our way, I’d lean toward taking the Under on Sunday.
Prediction: Under 40 (-110)
Best bet
Running the ball is a major part of Tennessee's identity regardless of who is in the backfield. Comparatively, only six teams in the NFL have given up fewer rushing yards per game than the Dolphins this season.
With that in mind, we can expect Titans QB Ryan Tannehill to again target A.J. Brown as his primary offensive weapon after the wideout's dynamite performance a week ago.
In Week 16, we saw Brown lead the league in target share, accounting for 53% of all of his team's targets. The Titans best use Brown as a deep-threat option and use his speed to rack up extra yardage.
Pick: A.J. Brown Over 67.5 receiving yards (-115 at DraftKings)
