Odds of Marcus Mariota Being Titans Week 1 Starter in 2020 Set at -240

• Former No. 2 overall pick has never played a full season
• Mariota had just 11 TD passes in 2018
• Addition of Tannehill puts pressure on former Heisman winner

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is entering his fifth season in the NFL as the expected starter in Week 1.

Odds favor Mariota beginning the 2020 season as the Titans’ starting QB setting the opening price at -240.

Is there any value in betting against the former No. 2 overall pick being the starter in the Music City next season?

The current price on taking No is +165, and based on Mariota’s decline statistically, it’s a wager seriously taking a look at.

Will Mariota Be The Week 1 Starter For The Titans In 2020?

Odds taken 09/03/2019

Mariota will most certainly open this season with extra pressure on his shoulders after the Titans traded for former Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill as added insurance.

Poor Pre-Season Performance

Many have speculated that after Mariota’s final pre-season performance in which he was pulled early in the game, Titans coach Mike Vrabel may opt go in a different direction, which could include Tannehill taking over sooner than later.

Mariota did not complete one pass on three attempts and was sacked for a safety before Vrabel decided to pull his starting QB.

Marcus Mariota flips in for the 2-pt conversion 😤

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/1HzqTQGcXT

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) August 17, 2019

It wasn’t exactly a great tune-up performance in Mariota’s final pre-season game prior to Week 1 action, but Vrabel stated the decision was merely to protect the starting quarterback.

“At that point in time I thought it was in the team’s best interest and everybody’s best interest that we get him out of the game at that point of time,” Vrabel told CBS Sports.

Mariota has battled through various injuries in his four previous seasons with the Titans, failing to play a full 16 game season in the process.

Mariota’s Stats As Starter

The 25-year-old is coming off his worst statistical season, completing 228 of 331 passes for just 2,528 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Mariota was also sacked a career-high 42 times, which likely contributed to other injuries during that span.

Will it be a repeat of 2018 or can Mariota put up numbers like his sophomore season when he had 3,426 passing yards with 26 touchdowns?

Little Room For Error

While Mariota’s margin for mistakes is a lot smaller than in the past, the Titans will give the former Heisman-winning quarterback another shot to prove he can be an everyday starter. He will have a clean slate in 2019, but his room for error will be magnified than ever before.

Will we see Tannehill sooner rather than later? That depends not only on Mariota’s performance, but whether he can also stay healthy. Tannehill did have two seasons with 4,000 or more passing yards — a feat Mariota has not reached in four years as a starter.

This will be Mariota’s last chance prove he can be a trusted No. 1 QB. Anything short of a playoff appearance and this will likely be the last of Mariota in Tennessee.

Pick: Mariota starting QB of Titans in Week 1 of 2020 season, No (+165)