(My Sportsbook) - Those who had been feverishly anticipating this Sunday's game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans may have a sudden change of plans in regards to their holiday weekend.

This season-ending showdown between the AFC South's top two teams once had the potential for colossal implications, but fans in attendance at Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend will likely be witnessing the equivalent of a preseason tune-up between two postseason-bound clubs.

Both the Titans and Colts are locked into their respective seeds for the upcoming playoffs, with AFC South champion Tennessee having secured homefield advantage throughout the conference tournament by virtue of a notice-serving 31-14 victory over the well-regarded Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, and Indianapolis clinching the AFC's top Wild Card spot with a hard-fought 31-24 decision over Jacksonville in Week 16.

With little more than pride on the line, expect each team to hold out a number of key members to ensure a healthy roster for the playoffs. It's almost a given that Colts head coach Tony Dungy, notorious for resting his best players in such situations, will be continuing that trend on Sunday with an AFC Wild Card round matchup at either San Diego or Denver on tap for next week.

Indianapolis was in the exact same scenario when it hosted the Titans in last year's regular-season finale, having already garnered the No. 2 seed in the AFC entering the game. With quarterback Peyton Manning playing just over a quarter and a handful of Colts starters inactive, Tennessee took advantage of the depleted roster to earn a 16-10 win that wound up vaulting Jeff Fisher's squad into the playoffs.

The Titans won't have to go for broke this time around, after rallying for 21 unanswered points in the second half to topple the AFC North titlist Steelers. Tennessee's stout defense did its part by forcing four Pittsburgh turnovers, including two interceptions by Michael Griffin, one of which the young free safety returned 83 yards for a touchdown in the game's closing seconds.

Indianapolis also put forth a furious late comeback capped by a defensive score to win its most recent tilt. The Colts scored 17 straight fourth-quarter points to overtake the determined Jaguars, with cornerback Keiwan Ratliff's 35-yard interception return with 4:48 remaining breaking a 24-24 tie.

With a victory on Sunday, the 13-2 Titans would set a new franchise standard for wins in a regular season. Tennessee went 13-3 in back-to-back campaigns in 1999 and 2000.

SERIES HISTORY

Indianapolis holds a 15-12 lead in its all-time regular season series with Tennessee, but was a 31-21 road loser when the teams met in Week 8. The clubs embarked on an unconventional home-and-home split of last year's series, including a 22-20 Colts win at LP Field in Week 2, while the Titans - aided by Indianapolis' decision to limit the minutes of its starters in preparation for the playoffs - took a 16-10 decision at RCA Dome in Week 17. The teams also split in 2006, with the home team winning both.

The only postseason meeting between the two was in a 1999 AFC Divisional Playoff, when Tennessee scored a 19-16 road victory en route to a Super Bowl appearance.

Fisher has a 6-8 record against Indianapolis, including the aforementioned playoff victory. Dungy is 8-7 against both Fisher and Tennessee all-time, including an 0-2 mark during his tenure in Tampa Bay.

WHEN THE TITANS HAVE THE BALL

Although the Titans rank only 18th in the NFL in total offense (326.3 ypg), they've been successful due to the strength of a potent running game headlined by rookie sensation Chris Johnson (1228 rushing yards, 43 receptions, 10 total TD) and steady play under center by veteran quarterback Kerry Collins (2677 passing yards, 12 TD, 7 INT). Tennessee did become the first team to gain over 300 yards on the mighty Pittsburgh defense last Sunday, with Collins throwing for 216 yards and a touchdown while completing an efficient 20-of-29 of his throws. The well-traveled 35-year-old will probably give way to deposed starter Vince Young (164 passing yards, 1 TD, 2 INT), who hasn't seen any significant action since the season-opener, at some point during Sunday's clash, however. Johnson may also yield some work in the backfield to short- yardage specialist LenDale White (748 rushing yards, 5 receptions), the AFC's leader with 15 rushing touchdowns and another key element in the league's sixth-best ground attack (141.1 ypg). An excellent offensive line that has yielded a league-low nine sacks will likely be without Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae this week, as the 15th-year vet left the Pittsburgh game with an injured right elbow.

Indianapolis' smallish and speed-based defense is just 23rd against the run this year (125.5 ypg), but the unit did limit Johnson and White to just 90 yards on 29 carries in the meeting between these rivals earlier this season. Valued middle linebacker Gary Brackett (99 tackles) led the charge that night with nine solo tackles, but he hasn't played since November because of a fractured fibula and won't be available for Sunday's test. It wouldn't be surprising if Dungy holds out oft-injured strong safety Bob Sanders (39 tackles, 1 INT) for the game as well, while weakside linebacker Freddy Keiaho (105 tackles) and free safety Antoine Bethea (100 tackles, 2 INT) are also candidates to sit and rest some minor ailments this week.

The Colts' calling card on defense is a formidable pass rush generated by ends Dwight Freeney (28 tackles, 10.5 sacks) and Robert Mathis (48 tackles, 11.5 sacks), both of whom were named to this year's AFC Pro Bowl roster. The disruptive Freeney, who preserved Indy's Week 16 win with a last-second sack of the Jaguars' David Garrard, has been battling a sore foot recently and is expected to be used sparingly, however. Indianapolis has also had injury issues at the cornerback position all throughout this season, yet the team has still allowed a mere six touchdown passes on the year, the lowest figure in the NFL.

WHEN THE COLTS HAVE THE BALL

Indianapolis hasn't shown much balance on the offensive side of the ball in 2008, as the Colts rank third in the league in passing yards (255.0 ypg) but are next-to-last with an average of 76.9 rushing yards per game. That disparity hasn't been much of a problem because Manning (3907 passing yards, 26 TD, 12 INT) has delivered another MVP-caliber season and top targets Reggie Wayne (81 receptions, 1130 yards, 6 TD) and tight end Dallas Clark (71 receptions, 6 TD) have both been real difference-makers as well. Clark has been especially dominant down the stretch, as the field-stretching tight end backed up a monster 12-catch, 142-yard effort against Detroit in Week 15 by hauling in eight Manning throws for 105 yards and a score versus Jacksonville. Manning needs just 93 yards to reach 4,000 in a season for the ninth time in his illustrious career, but it's unclear whether he'll get to that mark before giving way to seldom-used backup Jim Sorgi. The Colts could be without their top two running backs, Joseph Addai (540 rushing yards, 23 receptions, 6 total TD) and Dominic Rhodes (538 rushing yards, 45 receptions, 9 total TD), for precautionary reasons on Sunday, which means an extended look for undrafted rookie Chad Simpson (45 rushing yards, 1 TD, 3 receptions).

The Titans will definitely be without two cornerstone members of the defensive line for the regular-season finale, as both tackle Albert Haynesworth (51 tackles, 8.5 sacks) and end Kyle Vanden Bosch (24 tackles, 4.5 sacks) have been ruled out until the playoffs with knee and groin injuries, respectively. The All-Pro Haynesworth may be the primary reason why Tennessee owns the league's fourth-best run defense (91.4 avg), but the club got along just fine without the lane-clogger a week ago. The Titans held Pittsburgh to 71 rushing yards on 24 attempts and Haynesworth's replacement, rookie Jason Jones (30 tackles, 5 sacks), came through with a startling 3 1/2 sacks and three forced fumbles on the afternoon. Stalwart weakside linebacker Keith Bulluck (95 tackles, 0.5 sacks) compiled 13 tackles in the win and is the unquestioned leader of the team's fierce defense.

Sorgi, who hasn't attempted a pass since the preseason, will be attempting to shake off the rust against a Titans stop unit that has surrendered just 11 touchdowns through the air and garnered 20 interceptions this season. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan (69 tackles, 5 INT, 17 PD) is headed to his first Pro Bowl because of a strong year, while Griffin's (75 tackles, 1 sack, 11 PD) seven picks are tied for the most in the NFL at the moment. Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch are Tennessee's two best pass rushers, but Jones and backup ends Jacob Ford (21 tackles, 6 sacks) and Dave Ball (28 tackles, 4.5 sacks) have shown that the team has capable pressure-producers in reserve.

FANTASY FOCUS

For leagues with playoffs that are still ongoing, there are very few sure bets to choose from in this game. The most attractive options appear to be White, a goal-line beast who should get enough touches to make an impact, and Wayne, who amassed 12 catches for 87 yards when these teams met in last year's regular-season finale. Manning owners will have to find a suitable alternative to their regular fantasy signal-caller, and the possibility of the Titans holding back Johnson in a meaningless affair certainly exists as well. With plenty of backups sure to receive playing time, both defenses may be worth using in a potentially low-scoring contest.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

With so much uncertainty surrounding this watered-down matchup, it's not easy to make a pick with a wealth of confidence. However, there is reason to believe that the Titans will take this game a little more seriously than the Colts will. With an off week to follow, Fisher has less to worry about on the injury front and wants to ensure that his regulars will remain sharp for Tennessee's postseason run. Dungy's history suggests he'll pull his main guys at the earliest time possible, and it's highly questionable as to whether an Indianapolis offense that probably won't have its best two running backs and Manning on the sidelines for most of the day will be able to do much against a Titans defense that proved last week that it's still pretty good, even at less than full strength.

My Sportsbook Predicted Outcome: Titans 20, Colts 13