Titans vs Texans matchup preview and current betting lines
The Tennessee Titans haven’t played all that well, yet they continue to find ways to win. Of course, getting past the lousy Indianapolis Colts is nothing to brag about, but Mike Vrabel’s team gets the job done on most days.
The Titans don’t boast a flashy offense, and Derrick Henry hasn’t been the most dominant offensive force in the league this season. Still, they’re well-coached, well-balanced, and have quite the solid defense leading the way.
The Houston Texans look pretty much like a lost cause at this point. Even when they manage to compete, they fail to stay in contention and just can’t seem to keep up with their competition, especially when the game is on the line.
Davis Mills left a lot to be desired once again in his last game with the Las Vegas Raiders. Unsurprisingly, the Texans still had a shot to tie the game or even take the lead, and it all went down hill for the second-year quarterback.
Players to watch:
Ryan Tannehill: Ryan Tannehill has been more mediocre than usual this season. He’s not particularly good at anything, and he also hurt his ankle last week. So, maybe rookie Malik Willis could take over if he struggles or suffers another injury.
Dameon Pierce: Dameon Pierce has proven that he can be an elite back in this league. He’s led the Houston Texans’ struggling offense, making his way through the defense despite often playing in unfavorable game scripts.
Week 8 Predictions: NFL Bet of the week on Titans vs Texans
Titans -2
The opening Titan vs Texans spread have the Tennessee Titans favored by just two points, which seems kind of surprising, all things considered. Of course, divisional games are always close and complicated, but they should still be favored by at least a field goal.
Ryan Tannehill’s health will be something to keep an eye on when Mike Vrabel’s team visits Houston, but it’s not like he’s been dealing and torching defenses left and right this season. So, even if he were to miss time, they should still be in control here.
While he hasn’t been as dominant as he usually is, Derrick Henry can still shred through the Texans’ shaky front seven like a hot knife through butter. The Texans can’t seem to stop the run, and they don’t force many turnovers.
Moreover, it seems like Davis Mills’ somewhat promising rookie season was a fluke or a mirage. He’s been exposed week in and week out, and there’s no way a coach like Mike Vrabel will drop a divisional game vs. such a beatable foe.
Over 40.5
The opening Titan vs Texans odds have this game total sitting at 40.5 points. That makes sense, considering both teams favor the run over the pass, and that neither quarterback has been elite through the first seven weeks of the season.
But we still believe this game total is way too low. Davis Mills can throw the ball downfield, and Dameon Pierce has at least one big, explosive play per game. The same can be said of Derrick Henry, and Robert Woods has done wonders piling up yards after the catch.
More than that, the Texans will turn the ball over on their own half. It’s just a fact; it’s inevitable. Mills will throw at least a couple of picks, and we like the Titans’ chances of returning one all the way to their endzone for a score.
Divisional games are often close, and Lovie Smith could be tempted to take an overly-conservative approach. But that will change when the Texans find themselves down by a couple of scores and have to take shots downfield.
FAQs about Titans vs Texans
Yes, they play in the AFC South.
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Ryan Tannehill.
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