NFL Thursday Night Football Eagles vs Texans: Picks, predictions and betting lines
The Eagles continue to roll on, while the Texans haven’t yet found their feet. Here’s a break down of the odds and predictions for the ‘Thursday Night Football’ clash.
We’re taking a look at how this Thursday night clash breaks down. From predictions to betting odds, join us for a look at the high-flying Philadelphia Eagles vs Houston Texans.
Eagles vs Texans: The lay of the land and betting odds
On ‘Thursday Night Football’ two teams with diametrically opposite fortunes will face off against each other. On the one side, we’ve got the Eagles who remain unbeaten in the league with a record of 7-0. On the other, we’ve got the Texans who are 1-5-1 and have lost their last two games. Where the head-to-head is concerned, these two have met only five times in the past, but the Eagles have won every single one of those encounters, including a 31-21 contest the last time they met. This all to say, the odds are against the Texans, however, where betting is concerned it would be a good idea to have a look at official odds below before making any choices.
- Texans vs. Eagles spread: Philadelphia -13.5
- Texans vs. Eagles over-under: 46 points
- Texans vs. Eagles money line: Eagles -800, Texans +550
- PHI: Eagles are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven Thursday games
- HOU: Texans are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games against teams with a winning road record
The Eagles aren’t playing around
Without doubt, a big part of why the Eagles have excelled this season is tight end Dallas Goedert. With his 32 receptions for 421 yards (13.2 average), one touchdown and seven highlight reel plays of 20 or more yards, Goedert has been key. We should also mention the 22 first downs that he’s converted. As recently as Sunday, he made the Steelers pay with six receptions for 64 yards (10.7 average). Where defense is concerned, linebacker T.J. Edwards has been the man of the moment. From his team leading 68 tackles, 45 of which were solo, to his two sacks and four tackles for loss, Edwards has been exceptional. If you need more convincing, consider the idea that in his last two games alone, he’s had double-figures in terms of tackles. That included 14 against Dallas and 13 against Pittsburgh this past Sunday.
All hope isn’t lost for the Texans
If the Texans are going to get anything their game on Thursday night, it’ll probably come down to rookie running back Dameon Pierce. With his 539 yards on 121 carries (4.5 average) and three touchdowns, as well as four plays of 20 yards or more - one of those was 75 yards - and 32 first-down conversions, Pierce isn’t just Houston’s top rusher, he’s quite simply a problem for defenses. Regarding the passing game, he’s hauled in 20 passes for 98 yards (4.9 average) and one TD. Like we said, this guy is a problem. As for the defense, Jerry Hughes has led the way. A team-high five sacks for 36 yards and five tackles for loss is more than credible enough.
Eagles vs Texans: The Prediction
Though logic would favor an Eagles bet, it’s interesting to note that the model offered by Sportsline has not only predicted that the points total will be less than what was previously expected at 46, but it also cites the aforementioned Pierce as the leading rusher. This is all to say, that while an Eagles victory is quite likely, the Texans are certainly projected to be in with a chance and moreover, carry a bigger payout. Ultimately, it would be wise to check in with the model before finally placing your bet!