The Houston Texans hope to play spoiler as underdogs in this AFC South tilt against division rival Tennessee Titans. Both teams made the NFL playoffs last season but the Texans’ postseason chances are already on the line in October. A late addition to the sportsbook board, the Titans played on Tuesday and face the shortest possible playing week.
| Game: Houston Texans (4-0) at Tennessee Titans (1-4) Location: Nissan Stadium Time: 1 p.m. ET Television: CBS |
Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under | Team Total |
| Texans | +3 +105 | +155 | 53½ | 24½ |
| Titans | -3 -125 | -175 | 53½ | 28 |
Head-to-Head
The last meeting between these division foes took place last year on the final week of the regular season in a meaningless game for the Texans. The Titans though were playing for their lungs. Tennessee covered as handsome 10-point favorites, while the Texans sat a number of key starters.
Two weeks before, the real division match between the two saw Houston upset Tennessee as three-point road dogs. The Texans’ win locked their place in the postseason.
Titans coach Mike Vrabel faced the Texans in the previous year of his tenure too. Those games were split with the home team winning. While Vrabel won’t see then Texans’ head coach Bill O’Brien, he will see his O’Brien’s system run by then defensive coordinator (and his old coach from his playing days) Romeo Crennel.
Houston Texans
Betting Record
| Team | Record | ATS | ATS Home | ATS Away | ATS Fave | ATS Dog |
O/U |
| Texans | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 0-3 | 3-2 |
Next game: vs Green Bay Packers
Last Game
After kicking head coach Bill O’Brien to the curb, the Texans celebrated by playing the Jacksonville Jaguars who were generous in providing a lopsided victory for Houston. While the Texans were the better team on the field that Sunday, the final score of 30-14 reflected more on the Jags’ ineptitude rather than Houston’s talent.
The market didn’t support the Texans going into their previous game led by interim coach Crennel. Bet down from -6½ to -5½, Houston still covered with ease after being handed two turnovers and benefitting from two missed Jacksonville field goals.
Injury Report
October has not been harsh to the Texans with regard to injury. Reportedly, no new serious injuries occurred in the last game. There are a half dozen players listed as questionable, but all practiced in a limited fashion, a couple looking to return to play after missing at least last week, notably TE Jordan Akins.
Tennessee Titans
Betting Record
| Team | Record | ATS | ATS Home | ATS Away | ATS Fave | ATS Dog |
O/U |
| Titans | 4-0 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 0-3 | 1-0 | 3-1 |
Next game: vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Game
In the most eerily anticipated game in recent memory, betting markets kicked the Tennessee Titans to the curb. Twice delayed and pushed to a rare Tuesday slot, sportsbooks didn’t really want to touch the game. It was assumed the Titans were in disarray having been all but forbidden from their own facilities for going on two weeks. Rust was winning the debate over rest with an unprecedented 16 days off.
Meanwhile, NFL writers were prepping early drafts for their Josh Allen MVP pieces and when it came at last time to put a number on the game, oddsmakers docked the Titans about four points and posted the Bills as three-point chalk. Markets wasted little time adjusting that number to -3½ and threw in a bunch of under 53 bets for good measure.
Everyone watched as the Titans ground the Bills to a 42-16 final. Buffalo money was put out of its misery as early as the first 90 seconds when a pass plunged off Andre Roberts’ hands and practically dropped in Malcolm Butler’s basket. Under bettors were tortured throughout, spending the first half behind the number and then receiving false hope when a couple of long third-quarter drives failed to produce points. The game finally went over on a garbage insurance touchdown by the Titans with just under two minutes left.
Injury Report
It’s dangerously premature to read too much into the Titans’ opening practice report because no one practiced on Wednesday, having played the day before. Still, they filed a required participation report in which nearly a dozen players would be absent. Thursday’s practice will provide much more info on who may potentially have to miss playing on this exceptionally short week.
Betting on the Game
Point Spread
Both teams are coming off solid point-spread covers for which they owe a debt of gratitude to the other team for sloppy ball handling. Where the Titans’ victory was a much higher profile, it’s a bit of a surprise to see them priced so low. We were expecting to take four or more points with the Texans, but would consider backing the Titans if the -3 comes down in price (it’s currently -125) and the Titans don’t lose any key players leading into the game.
Moneyline
Titans to win is priced at -175, with +155 takeback on the Texans. For a juiced three-point favorite the -175 is a slightly cheaper price, and would expect that number to increase.
Over/Under
The total opened 53½ and has since been bet down to 52½. If it keeps falling, we’ll definitely take the over. Unless there’s a secret issue with WR A.J. Brown or something, this should be a barnburner, so we don’t expect the total to keep coming down. Still lean over 52½ for now.
