The New England Patriots will host the Houston Texans to kick off their 2023 preseason on Thursday. With the majority of starters from both teams sitting out, we can expect plenty of young and fringe players battling. The Patriots have dominated the all-time series against Houston, logging an 11-3 record. DeMeco Ryans is heading into his first season as the head coach for Houston, while Bill Belichick is coaching New England for the 24th season.
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
Davis Mills is the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart for Houston and can command the offense. Mills has strong arm strength and sound accuracy. The California product was the starter last season, finishing with 3,118 passing yards and 17 passing touchdowns.
Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. will make his debut. Anderson Jr. has all the tools needed to be an excellent pass-rusher. The Alabama product owns a quick first step and is explosive. He totaled 58.5 tackles for loss and 34.5 sacks during his three years at Alabama. Receiver John Metchie III is back on the field after missing last season due to leukemia. Metchie III possesses speed and has the chance to establish himself as a quality pass-catcher. See which team to pick here.
Why the Patriots can cover
Receiver Tyquan Thornton is a tall, speedy playmaker. Thornton secured 22 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in 2022, but will look to be more involved in the passing game. The Baylor product owns strong deep ball-tracking skills and hands. Receiver Demario Douglas gives New England a shifty and agile weapon.
Douglas owns strong hands and can thrive as a possession receiver. The 22-year-old racked up 131 catches for 1,694 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns during the 2021-22 seasons at Liberty. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez was the first-round pick for New England in 2023. Gonzalez has freakish athleticism and ball skills. In 2022 at Oregon, he totaled 51 total tackles, seven pass deflections, and four interceptions. 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.
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Author: CBS Sports Staff
August 10, 2023 | 5:10 pm
