Point Spread: Titans Slight Underdog at Saints in Season Opener

The 2023 NFL regular season is finally here, and the Tennessee Titans are off to New Orleans to take on the Saints in Week 1. Here's the latest on the point spread, both teams' record vs. the spread in 2022 and a look back on how the underdogs did in Week 1 a year ago.

NEW ORLEANS, La. — The Tennessee Titans open the 2023 NFL regular season on the road on Sunday, taking on the New Orleans Saints in the always-loud Caesers Superdome. They are a slight underdog, checking on as a 3-point underdog in the season opener for both teams.

The point spread opened at 3.5 points last week, but has dropped just a tick during the week. That's not uncommon in Week 1, where the fear of the unknown is certainly a real thing.

The Titans were a streaky team against the spread a year ago. After losing — and failing to cover — their first two games, they reeled off eight covers in a row. But then they lost their final seven games — and were just 1-5-1 vs. the spread.

The Titans have had a lot of roster turnover, with 24 new faces on the 53-man roster. There's also a new offensive coordinator in Tim Kelly and a new general manager in Ran Carthon.

Here's how the Titans fared in 2022, both straight up and against the sprea:

• WEEK 1 (Sept. 11): Lost to the New York Giants 21-20 in Nashville as a 5.5-point favorite. Overall: 0-1. Against The Spread: 0-1.
• WEEK 2 (Sept. 19) Lost at Buffalo Bills 41-7 as a 10-point underdog. Overall: 0-2. ATS: 0-2. 
• WEEK 3 (Sept. 25): Beat the Las Vegas Raiders 24-22 in Nashville as a 2.5-point underdog. Overall: 1-2. ATS: 1-2. 
• WEEK 4 (Oct. 2): Won at Indianapolis Colts 24-17 as a 4.5-point underdog. Overall: 2-2. ATS: 2-2. 
• WEEK 5 (Oct. 9): Won at Washington Commanders 21-17 in a pick 'em game. Overall: 3-2. ATS: 3-2. 
• WEEK 6 — Bye week
• WEEK 7 (Oct. 23): Beat the Indianapolis Colts 19-10 in Nashville as a 4.5-point favorite. Overall: 4-2. ATS: 4-2. 
• WEEK 8 (Oct. 30): Won at Houston Texans 17-10 as a 1.5-point favorite. Overall: 5-2. ATS: 5-2. 
• WEEK 9 (Nov. 6): Lost at Kansas City Chiefs 20-17 in overtime as a 14-point underdog. Overall: 5-3. ATS: 6-2. 
• WEEK 10 (Nov. 13): Beat the Denver Broncos 17-10 in Nashville as a 2.5-point favorite. Overall: 6-3. ATS: 7-2. 
• WEEK 11 (Nov. 17): Won at Green Bay Packers 27-17 as a 3-point underdog. Overall: 7-3. ATS: 8-2. 
• WEEK 12 (Nov. 27) Lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 20-16 in Nashville in a pick 'em game. Overall: 7-4. ATS: 8-3.
• WEEK 13 (Dec. 4): Lost at Philadelphia Eagles 35-10 as a 4.5-point underdog. Overall: 7-5. ATS: 8-4
• WEEK 14 (Dec. 11): Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars 36-22 in Nashville as a 3-point favorite. Overall: 7-6. ATS: 8-5.
• WEEK 15 (Dec. 18): Lost at Los Angeles Chargers 17-14 as a 3-point underdog. Overall: 7-7. ATS: 8-5-1.
• WEEK 16 (Dec. 24)— Lost to Houston Texans 19-14 in Nashville as a 3-point favorite. Overall: 7-8. ATS: 8-6-1 
• WEEK 17 (Dec. 29): Lost to Dallas Cowboys 27-13 in Nashville as a 13-point underdog. Overall: 7-9. ATS: 8-7-1 
• WEEK 18 (Jan. 7): Lost at Jacksonville Jaguars 20-16 as a 6.5-point underdog.. Overall: 7-10. ATS: 9-7-1. 

Last year, the Saints also finished 7-10. They were also 7-10 against the spread and didn't cover in a game until Week 4. They lost to Tampa Bay — and failed to cover — in their home opener a year ago. Usually as popular home betting favorite, the Saints were just 4-5 against the spread in 2022.

That should give Titans bettors a good feeling.

So should what happened Thursday night, when the Detroit Lions — a 6.5-point underdog — upset the defending world champion Kansas City Chiefs. Underdogs aren't outright winners in Week 1 very often. Last year, for instance, only the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants and Pittsburg Steelers won outright as underdogs.