Buffalo Bills vs. Tennessee Titans (-3, 31)
Matchup stats and trends
Who's in, who's out
As is customary of the first preseason game, the starters are expected to play no more than two series for both teams minus a couple of exceptions.
Bills head coach Dick Jauron said this week that all four quarterbacks on the roster are expected to play and that particular focus will be placed on the team’s revamped offensive line.
All five of the Bills’ projected starting O-linemen will be playing different positions this season, mostly as a result of the loss of Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters in the offseason. That includes first and second round picks Eric Wood and Andy Levitre.
Jauron said Wood and Levitre will play extensively Sunday, while one starter, tackle Brad Butler, will not dress.
Running back Marshawn Lynch, who has suspended for the first three games of the regular season because of off-the-field conduct, will not play. Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes are expected to pick up the slack.
Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher called it “an honor” to be playing in the Hall of Fame Game and added “we’ll clearly be competitive throughout the game.”
Fisher has played it close to the vest this week with regard to playing time. Don’t forget that the Titans didn’t open their training camp until July 31 while Buffalo reported a full week earlier.
Kerry Collins is expected to start at quarterback and speculation out of Tennessee is that backup Vince Young will start the second half and play the entire third quarter, though it was not confirmed by Fisher.
Wide receiver Kenny Britt, the Titans’ first-round pick out of Rutgers, has a sore hamstring and will not play.
The Titans are also banged up on the offensive and defensive fronts. Defensive tackles Spencer Johnson and John McCargo, who are competing to replace All-Pro Albert Haynesworth, both had to leave practice Friday and it will be a game-time decision.
Coming and Going
The hype this week has surrounded the Buffalo debut of wide receiver Terrell Owens. The Pro Bowler adds to an already solid cast of receivers in Buffalo that features Lee Evans, Roscoe Parish and Josh Reed. All three are expected to play a significant role in the Bills’ newly-installed no-huddle offense.
The Titans’ most significant offseason acquisition was receiver Nate Washington from the Steelers. Washington caught 40 balls for 631 yards and three touchdowns as Pittsburgh’s primary slot receiver last season. Tennessee hopes he can provide a much-needed downfield threat.
Line Movement
The Titans opened as 3-point favorites with the total set around 31, but that’s changed slightly at some books. Action on the Bills and the over has resulted in some shops pushing the line to Tennessee -2.5 with the over/under number a half point higher at 31.5.
Trends
The Titans are 27-25 against the spread in the preseason under Fisher’s guidance. The over is 28-23-1 in August games coached by Fisher. Jauron, entering his fourth season as the Bills’ head man, is 7-5 ATS in the preseason. The over has gone just 4-8 during that time.
In the last 10 Hall of Fame games the over/under is 5-5.
Weather
The forecast calls for a high of 91 degrees in Canton with gusty winds.