The first full week of the 2023 NFL Preseason gets underway when the Houston Texans and New England Patriots match up on Thursday. The Patriots finished the 2022 campaign with an 8-9 record, failing to reach the postseason. On the other sideline, Houston went 3-13-1 and finished last in the AFC South. They hired DeMeco Ryans as their new head coach and added former All-Americans C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Kickoff from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The Texans are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Texans vs. Patriots odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 39. Before locking in any Texans vs. Patriots picks, you need to see the NFL predictions and betting advice from proven SportsLine expert Emory Hunt.
Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007. He is a former running back at Louisiana-Lafayette and knows the game from a player’s perspective. Hunt’s dedication to analysis of all levels of college and professional football helped him finish 48-38 on all XFL and USFL spread picks in 2023.
In addition, Hunt has gone 16-4 on his last 20 NFL picks involving the Patriots, returning $1,154. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, Hunt has locked in on Texans vs. Patriots from every angle and locked in his picks and best bets. You can visit SportsLine now to see Hunt’s NFL picks. Here are several NFL odds and trends for Texans vs. Patriots:
- Texans vs. Patriots spread: Houston -2.5
- Texans vs. Patriots over/under: 39 points
- Texans vs. Patriots money line: Houston -150, New England +130
- HOU: Texans are 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall
- NE: Home team is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings
- Texans vs. Patriots picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Texans can cover
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and will start on Thursday. Stroud owns a big-time arm with excellent accuracy. The 21-year-old finished his college career at Ohio State with 8,123 passing yards and 85 passing touchdowns.
Receiver Tank Dell is a rookie playmaker looking to make an impact. Dell has plenty of speed and acceleration, which allow him to stretch the field vertically. The 23-year-old snagged 199 receptions for 2,727 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns during the 2021-22 campaigns at Houston. See which team to pick here.
Why the Patriots can cover
Quarterback Bailey Zappe is accurate and poised in the pocket. Zappe reads the field well and has shown the ability to start multiple games in this league. Last season as a rookie, the Western Kentucky product tossed 781 yards with five passing scores in four regular season games. In the 2022 preseason, Zappe was 45-of-71 for 462 yards and one passing touchdown.
Rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte steps into this matchup looking to take advantage. Boutte owns plenty of explosiveness and the ability to win downfield. During his three years at LSU, he caught 131 passes for 1,782 yards and 16 touchdowns. There are carries up for grabs behind starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson. Pierre Strong Jr. has plenty of speed and burst. Strong Jr. can take any carry the distance as he looks to climb the depth chart. See which team to pick here.
How to make Texans vs. Patriots picks
Hunt has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning Under on the point total, he has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
Who wins Patriots vs. Texans on Thursday, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Texans vs. Patriots spread you should jump on, all from the top NFL expert on a blistering 16-4 run, and find out.
Go to Source
Author: CBS Sports Staff
August 9, 2023 | 10:11 am
