The Ultimate Colts vs. Texans Betting Preview

Two AFC South teams are set to clash in the next Monday night football game. Let’s take a look at the Colts vs. Texans betting odds, and what each team needs to do in order to win.

There’s no denying the fact that losing JJ Watt has significantly lowered the Houston Texans chances of making it far this season. At the beginning of the season, Watt’s injury was expected to be mended by week six, and many football fans that like to bet on sports in the US were anticipating a triumphant return for the hulking defensive end. That wasn’t meant to be, and the Texans have been trying valiantly to push on without him.

To be fair, they have been playing remarkably good football as of late. New defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and linebacker Whitney Mercilus have proven to be a solid pass rushing duo over the past few weeks. Even coach Bill O’ Brien is praising Clowney, telling the media “He played really well, he was one of the best players on our whole team. I give him credit.”

JJ Watt was forced to sit out this season after undergoing back surgery (photo: texasmonthly.com)

The emergence of two new defensive forces for the Texans could not have come at a better time, but will it be enough to stop the offensive capabilities of Andrew Luck and Frank Gore? That remains to be seen. So what are the Colts vs. Texans betting lines at? A quick GTBets register will tell you!

Keys to Victory for Each Team

Expectations were high for the Colts this year, but for the most part the team has failed to make much of an impact. They bounced back from a tough loss to the Jaguars by defeating the Bears this past Sunday, with Andrew Luck going 28 for 39 with 322 yards and two touchdowns, the last of which came from a pass to T.Y. Hilton in the waning minutes of the game.

Upcoming Game Betting Lines

• Colts: +3, -110…. Texans: -3, -110
• Patriots: -8, -110…. Bengals: +8, -110
• Raiders: -1, -110…. Chiefs: +1, -110

Against the Texans, however, Luck will need to rely more on the human wrecking ball that is Frank Gore. As we mentioned before, Houston has been exceptional thus far at stopping the pass, but is currently the eighth highest team in the NFL at giving up rushing yards, making a ground-heavy strategy their best chance to get the victory.

It’s not much of a surprise that most online sportsbooks in the US have the Houston Texans as the betting favorites heading into this game. Despite Brock Osweiler failing to meet the standards many had set (and paid) for him, the Texans have gone 3-2 so far this season and are the current leaders in the AFC south.

A crushing 27-0 defeat to the Patriots gave some perspective on exactly where they sit in the rankings, but they have managed to put on some great performances over the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans. Their defense is among the best in the NFL, and they have successfully found a healthy balance between passing and rushing down the field. They will need to keep this defense up against the colts on Monday, and hope their QB begins to live up to the expectations.

The Colts vs. Texans betting lines are very close according to GTBets, with Houston entering the match as a -3 point spread, -110 favorite, and Indianapolis coming in as the +3 spread, -110 underdogs.

Who Else is Playing this Week?

Next week’s Monday night football game is likely the most talked about game coming up, but a number of other important matches will take place this Sunday. The Bengals vs. Patriots match has many NFL fans excited, despite most assuming the Patriots will have an easy night. New England comes into the game as -8 point spread, -110 favorites, while Cincinnati enters as +8, -110 underdogs.

One of the biggest talking points of the 2016 NFL season is the Oakland Raiders unlikely ascension to become the AFC West leaders. They have already made US gambling news by going 4-1 this season, and have many in the Raider Nation believing this could finally be the year they get to the top.

The Oakland Raiders have gone 4-1 so far this season to become the AFC West leaders (photo: dystnow.com)

The Oakland Raider’s next game is against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have gone just 2-2 in 2016. GTBets list the Raiders as -1 point spread, -110 favorites, and the Chiefs as +1, -110 underdogs.

It’s been an exciting, albeit a bit strange season thus far in the NFL, and this week will be a good indicator as to who has playoff potential, and who will be left behind.

The Colts vs. Texans betting lines are already set, so who are you picking? Leave your comments below, and make sure to join GTBets for a full list of all the best NFL betting lines in 2016!