Houston Texans Opening Odds Week 10

The Houston Texans will host the Detroit Lions in a matchup of the AFC South and NFC North Division leaders. Two playoff hopefuls square off on Sunday Night Football in Houston. The "consequences" of this game in the greater scheme of the season are all about maintaining the lead. Houston has a two game lead against the the AFC South while the Lions are playing to maintain control of the NFC as a whole.

The last time these two teams faced off was in 2020 and the Texans dominated 41-25. Houston has only last to the Lions once all the way back in 2004.

The Line: Lions by 3.0 The line has already moved since this morning. The Texans will have coveted wide receiver Nico Collins back in the fold. This will provide them with the offensive juice to keep up with the Detroit Lions offense.

Detroit is on a six game win streak. In that time, they've also 6-0 against the spread. They've won their seven victories by an average of 16 points. While they've won several close games, they're capable of absolutely blowing teams out and not letting off the gas pedal. They remind me of a Katy Tigers high school team that knows how to assert their dominance over the 6A football landscape.

Good news for Houston bettors - they've yet to lose two games in a row this season. While they've lost two out of the last three, they've been a strong bounce back team this season.

Injuries and availability will drastically swing this line. Get in early to get good odds.

The Moneyline: Lions -180 The Lions are the hottest, most complete team in football. Honestly, maybe in American sports. I have yet to see another team play with as much devastating tenor than these Lions. They simply know how to move the ball on offense and clasp down receivers on defense. The loss of Aiden Hutchinson damages their long-term aspirations, but they can still rush the QB. They didn't record a sack all game against the Lions, but repeatedly had Jordan Love on the move.

The Texans... well what is the Texans offense? Kenyon Green's injury is both a godsend and a tragic loss. He'll go down as one of the pre-eminent busts in Houston Texans history. Especially considering how good of a draft the 2022 class was. Until the offensive line demonstrates a modicum of consistency it's impossible to place my wagers for them.

This week, play it safe in primetime and go with the Lions.

Over/Under: 48.5 Texans face the all around best offense in the league. Detroit pairs creativity, efficiency, and variability. They have a multitude of weapons and know how to employ them in unique ways. They're aggressive on fourth down and keep opposing defenses guessing the entire game. They've scored upwards of 30 points four times this season.

Houston's offense has stabilized around the low 20s. They've only broken 25 points twice this season. The offense has not been potent and excessive in scoring. The return of Nico Collins and eventual replacement for Kenyon Green will benefit the Texans offense immensely, but to what extent is difficult to know.

A scoreline of 31-24 doesn't seem preposterous. The Lions ability to blow opposing teams out of the water and subsequently create garbage time points lends itself to the Over. However, given the recent struggles of the Texans offense and overall lack of timing between Stroud and his receivers, I suggest hitting the Under on this one.