Dallas (2-2) at Houston (1-3)
When: Sunday, October 7th 2018
Where: NRG Stadium,
Houston, Texas
Time: 8:20 ET | TV: NBC
Opening Odds: Houston -3/42
Two teams who have not gotten things going quite yet will battle for the state of Texas as the Houston Texans host the Dallas Cowboys on NBC’s Sunday Night Football in Week 5 action. Both teams are coming off important victories, as the Cowboys edged the Detroit Lions at home on a late field goal, and Houston battled pass Indianapolis in overtime on the road. Dallas has won the past three against the Texans, although the teams last met four years ago. The Cowboys are 2-0 at home, but 0-2 on the road, while the Texans gained their first victory of the season and halted a nine-game losing streak overall dating to last season. This will be a good test between the trenches when Dallas has the ball, as they rank fourth in rushing, while Houston ranks ninth against it. Including this contest on Sunday, Houston will play their next six games outside of their division, where they are buried in last place at the moment. Dallas will host the Jacksonville Jaguars next week before going to rival Washington.
Dallas has been focusing a lot on their star running back this year with quarterback Dak Prescott struggling. Ezekiel Elliott recorded a career-best 240 yards from scrimmage last week in the 26-24 win over Detroit and took over the league rushing lead by carrying 25 times for 152 yards and adding 88 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. Prescott threw for a season-high 255 yards and two TDs, connecting with leading receiver Cole Beasley four times. Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence was a monster against the Lions, recording a career high three sacks, giving him an NFL-leading total of 5.5.
Deshaun Watson struggled in the season opener at New England, but has picked it up since with three consecutive 300-yard games, throwing for 375 and two touchdowns while adding 41 yards rushing and another score last week. Watson has been sacked seven times and has been taken down 17 times through the first four games. Superstar wideout DeAndre Hopkins had another big game with 10 catches for 169 yards and a score while Keke Coutee had 11 receptions for 109 yards in his NFL debut. Houston’s defense received two sacks apiece from J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney last week, and will try and keep that type of pressure going Sunday.
I really don’t like the way this Dallas team is playing offensively, relying too heavily on Elliott. Houston has a good enough defense to key on that and make Prescott beat them. Watson seems to be getting better each week after missing most of 2017. I expect another big game from him and an easy Houston win.
Pick: Texans -3
Betting Trends:
- Cowboys are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Cowboys are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games in October.
- Cowboys are 12-26-1 ATS in their last 39 games on fieldturf.
- Cowboys are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Cowboys are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 5.
- Texans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in October.
- Texans are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Texans are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up win.
- Texans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Texans are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Texans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
- Texans are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Texans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games on fieldturf.
- Texans are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
- Texans are 1-12 ATS in their last 13 games in Week 5.
- Texans are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Texans are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 6-0 in Cowboys last 6 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 5-0 in Cowboys last 5 games in October.
- Under is 10-1 in Cowboys last 11 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 7-1 in Cowboys last 8 games overall.
- Under is 6-1 in Cowboys last 7 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Cowboys last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-1 in Cowboys last 5 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 21-6 in Cowboys last 27 road games.
- Under is 6-2 in Cowboys last 8 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Under is 5-2 in Cowboys last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 7-3 in Cowboys last 10 games in Week 5.
- Under is 4-0 in Texans last 4 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Texans last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 5-1 in Texans last 6 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 17-5 in Texans last 22 games in October.
- Under is 5-2 in Texans last 7 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 7-3 in Texans last 10 games overall.
- Over is 30-14 in Texans last 44 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
