Are the Titans the new favorite to win the AFC South?

In the blink of an eye, the Tennessee Titans soared out of the AFC South basement to respectability, improving to 4-4 with a victory over division rival Jacksonville Jaguars.

Tennessee has won three of its last four games, and in the first year of general manager Jon Robinson's regime, the club is a legitimate contender for the division title.

Who is the favorite to win the AFC South? We break down each team's chances.

Houston Texans (4-3)

Why the Texans will win the division: The Texans are gaining contributions across the board from their defense, with Whitney Mercilus, Benardrick McKinney, and Jadeveon Clowney leading an underrated pass rush in J.J. Watt's absence. A.J. Bouye is the league's top-ranked cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus, and the team's resilience ought to be admired.

Already leading the division by half a game, the Texans' back-end schedule is very manageable, and with a head start on the rest of the division, all they need to do is weather the proverbial storm.

Why the Texans won't win the division: Brock Osweiler is the biggest free-agent bust of 2016, and the Texans' negligible return on investment could come back to haunt them at the end of the year. The Texans rank second-last in scoring offense, which will be a problem down the stretch. J.J. Watt's absence will eventually catch up to the defense, and the surging Titans will end up catching an overachieving Texans squad.

Tennessee Titans (4-4)

Why the Titans will win the division: Marcus Mariota may be experiencing the turning point of his career, going from inexperienced signal-caller to legitimate star:

Mariota is getting the most out of a Titans passing game that was expected to struggle at the beginning of the year, while Delanie Walker continues to feature as one of the NFL's premier tight ends. DeMarco Murray is in the mix for his second rushing title, overtaking Ezekiel Elliott for the lead on Thursday.

Brian Orakpo is in the midst of his best season, racking up seven sacks through eight games, and prior to Thursday, the Titans had recorded 20 sacks, third best in the NFL. The team's underrated pass rush is making it a viable contender for the division.

Why the Titans won't win the division: Eventually, the Titans' no-name defense will regress to the mean and while their production has been impressive, it doesn't appear sustainable.

The roster still lacks depth across the board and any injury to Mariota, Murray, Jurrell Casey, or Orakpo throws the team's playoff chances into jeopardy. The back end of the schedule includes five road games, all of which will pose a test for the Titans.

There's good reason why the Titans haven't made the playoffs since 2008, and while they've begun a new regime after firing general manager Ruston Webster, it would surprise nobody if they collapsed.

Indianapolis Colts (3-4)

Why the Colts will win the division: Andrew Luck is the best quarterback in the division, and is returning to top form after an abysmal 2015 campaign. Luck's thrown 14 touchdowns against four interceptions, completing 64.9 percent of his passes while keeping the Colts' offense alive.

T.Y. Hilton ranks third in receiving yards, while Frank Gore is steadying the rushing attack, on pace for another 1,000-yard campaign. The sheer offensive firepower is something to behold and the Colts can power their way to the top of the division.

Why the Colts won't win the division: Outside of Luck, Hilton, and Gore, the team remains a mess. The Colts have allowed a league-worst 25 sacks, and if Luck gets hurt they can kiss their playoff chances goodbye.

So, what about the Colts' defense? Lacking talent at every position, Indy rarely puts up resistance against any offense, allowing 28.6 points per game, fifth worst in the NFL. The team goes as far as Luck goes, which isn't an ideal formula for sustained success.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)

Why the Jaguars will win the division: Miracles can happen. The Jaguars boast one of the most talented receiving duos in the league in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, and both players have underwhelmed to date.

The Jaguars amassed a number of key defensive pieces over the summer, and it's possible the unit will gel over the second half to blank opponents. Tashaun Gipson and Prince Amukamara will eventually find their footing, and the Jaguars can't possibly be any worse, right?

Why the Jaguars won't win the division: Simply put, the Jaguars are miserable in every facet of the game, with little recourse to improve after spending heavily during the offseason. Blake Bortles is regressing badly during his third year, while the defense looks confused and uninspired. They're in too deep at this juncture, and the Jaguars will be watching the playoffs from home.