Afc Championship

[Louie]

When the Tennessee Titans and Oakland Raiders met in September earlier this season, the Titans were down 21-0 before their defense even made it onto the field.

''Embarrassing,'' Tennessee safety Lance Schulters told reporters recently. ''They embarrassed us that day, beat us up and they rubbed our faces in it. And I remember that. We all remember that.

''People might not want to say it, but I'll say it — we couldn't wait to play them again. All through (last week's game), knowing they are the No. 1 seed, I couldn't wait to get back and play the Raiders. That's what we wanted.''

The Raiders cruised to an easy 52-25 win that day, and the Titans allowed the most points in their franchise since the 1989, when the Houston Oilers were buried by Cincinatti, 61-7.

Oakland's Ron Woodson and Terry Kirby returned a pair of punts for majors in the September mauling, and rookie cornerback Phillip Buchanon returned an interception for six points. Tennessee won't have to worry about Kirby and Buchanon this week, as both are on the injured list.

The Titans have to worry, however, about the Raiders No. 1 ranked overall offense that's eating teams up for 390.4 yards per game. Most of those yards have come through the air from the hand of QB Rich Gannon, who set a new passing yards record this season with 4,689.

Receivers Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, and running back Charlie Garner have all racked up more than 900 yards through the air this campaign, and Jerry Porter leads the squad with nine TD receptions.

Tennessee's pass defense ranks a sloppy 25th in the league and the team's top cornerback, Andre Dyson, will play this week with a banged up shoulder. Defensive end Jevon Kearse will also play on a sore foot.

The Titans aren't in much better shape on offense, as QB Steve McNair might not even be able to throw this week in practice after jamming his thumb in Sunday's 34-31 OT win over Pittsburgh. RB Eddie George is also still suffering from the symptoms of a concussion from last week. Both players say they'll play against Oakland

The Raiders 'D' is choking offenses to just 14.9 points over its last 10 games and just 8.7 points over its last three. As you might expect, the 'under' has profited in nine of the club's last 10.

The Titans have seen the 'under' in three of their last four overall and four of their last five have dropped beneath the 'total' on the road. Tennessee doesn't seem to be fazed in away games, where its defense gives up only two more yards per game and the club has covered in four of its last five road bouts (ATS).

The Titans have also won 10 of their last 11 contests overall and they covered the number in five straight tilts until last weekend.

Tennessee is playing in the conference final for the second time in four seasons. They defeated Jacksonville on the road in 2000, 33-14 as a seven-point underdog.

Oakland is hosting its second conference final in three seasons. It fell to Baltimore in 2001, 3-16, as a 6 1/2-point 'chalk'.

My Pick: Oakland -7 1/2