Turnovers and toughness: they are two essential elements of this beautiful and barbaric game of football. And while these two core components are difficult to handicap or predict they will be essential to determining which team, the Titans or the Giants, can avoid the agitation of a two-game losing streak at the end of business on Sunday.

Tennessee (1-1) heads to the Meadowlands to square off with the New York Giants (1-1) at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Although it’s early in the season this game has the feeling of a key swing game for both teams. Both the Titans and the Giants were underdogs to win their respective divisions and both were viewed as playoff contenders to begin the season. But whichever club loses will fall to 1-2 and will be thrown into full-blown panic mode.

That is if Tennessee isn’t already in panic mode. They benched starting quarterback Vince Young last week after three gruesome turnovers against Pittsburgh in a rough home loss. Collins played well and led the Titans to their only touchdown. Coach Jeff Fisher quashed any talk of a quarterback controversy this week by proclaiming Young the starter. Yet, Collins and Young have flip-flopped positions so many times over the last few years that if Young gets off to a slow start Sunday there will undoubtedly be some uncertainty among the troops.

New York’s quarterback situation is extremely stable. But that’s about all that is. The Giants were throttled in Indianapolis last Sunday night, 38-14, and so far this season they have been trailing in six of the eight quarters in which they’ve played. Their defense has looked shaky and the grumbling – be it over performance or playing time – has already seeped into a volatile Giants locker room.

New York is just 4-9 straight up dating back to early last October. Conversely, in nearly the same time frame Tennessee has been exceptional at 9-3. These clubs have met only three times in the last decade, but the Titans have won and covered all three of those contests.

Turnovers have been the story for both teams so far this season. The Giants have lost three fumbles and thrown four interceptions in just two games. The Titans are already -5 in their turnover differential thanks in large part to a whopping seven – yes, SEVEN – turnovers in last week’s 19-11 loss to the Steelers. It’s never a grand NFL prediction to say that whichever club wins the turnover battle will take the cash. But the way these two teams have been handing it over, ball security will be critical.

Tennessee Titans at New York Giants Football Betting Odds
Tennessee enters this game as a 3.0-point underdog according to NFL odds. The juice on this game has risen to -120 on that three-point spread, indicating money coming in on the Giants. The total opened at 43.0 but I anticipate that number will be down near 42.0, if not lower, by kickoff. The early action on this game has been split pretty evenly.

Tennessee Titans at New York Giants Razorbacks Betting Trends
Titans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Titans are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following an ATS loss.
Titans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
Giants are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
Giants are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Giants are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a SU loss of more than 14 points.

Tennessee Titans at New York Giants Football Betting Picks and Predictions
The Giants have really been unimpressive in both of their outings this year. It took them all four quarters to put away a wretched Carolina team at home in the opener and then they were never competitive with the Colts last Sunday night. Tennessee has had the benefit of back-to-back home games, but they have at least looked the part in this early season. Tennessee’s defense seems to be well beyond what the Giants are trotting out there. And no matter who is under center for the Titans I think that they’ll be able to run the ball and set up some play-action passing.

The Giants look like a soft favorite, and until they get their locker room in order and get their defense squared away I just would have a hard time laying points with them. The primary advantage that the G-Men have in this game is the home field edge. But if the Giants get off to a slow start you know that the restless New York faithful will turn on them quickly.

Robert Ferringo is a writer and a professional college football and NFL handicapper for Doc’s Sports. Last year he brought home +62.5 Units for his clients for NFL picks and he is regarded as one of the top totals players in the sport. He has turned a profit in 5 of 6 football weeks and has a College Football Game of the Year on deck for this weekend. You can sign up for his college football and NFL picks and get more information here.