Houston (0-1) at Cincinnati (0-1)
When: Thursday, September 14th 2017
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Time: 8:25 ET | TV: NFL Network
Opening Odds: Cincinnati -3/38
Open an Account at Bovada Sportsbook Now! Sign up at Bovada.lv to get a $250 Signup Bonus to bet NFL Football odds and props!
Two two teams who put forth horrendous efforts in Week 1, will try and get back on track in Week 2 as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. There were a handful of disappointing offensive efforts around the league in the first week, but the biggest surprises were from Houston and Cincinnati, who both lost at home to division opponents. The Texans benched starter Tom Savage at halftime in favor of rookie first-round pick Deshaun Watson in Houston’s 29-7 loss to Jacksonville. Cincinnati was shut out at home for the first time since 2001 as quarterback Andy Dalton matched a career worst with four interceptions and committed five turnovers in the 20-0 loss to Baltimore. Houston has won seven of the past eight meetings (playoffs included) and held Cincinnati to 16 points the past two seasons.
Reports out of Houston indicate that Watson, who led Clemson to the national championship in January, will be under center for Thursday’s matchup if he is not hindered by an ankle injury during Tuesday’s practice. Watson was 12 of 23 for 102 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but he and Savage were sacked a combined 10 times behind a line that is still missing left tackle Duane Brown (contract holdout) and will be without guard Jeff Allen. Another issue concerning the Texans is the long list of injured players that features five in the NFL’s concussion protocol, including the team’s top three tight ends. Wide receiver Jaelen Strong will make his season debut after serving a one-game suspension. Despite the return of start defensive end J.J. Watt, limited to three games last season due to back surgery, Houston allowed 155 yards rushing in the setback to the Jaguars.
[ad id=’36391′]
There was a bright spot in the Bengals humiliating loss to the Ravens, as the defense surrendered a total of just 268 yards including 111 through the air. They did have trouble stopping Joe Flacco and company on third down, however (42.9%). Dalton, who is already halfway to last season’s interception total of eight, compiled a horrific 0.6 total QBR after completing 16 of 31 for 170 yards. It is ranked as the the third worst quarterback performance ever behind Jay Cuter (2010) and Peyton Manning (2015). Star wide receiver A.J. Green led the way with five catches for 74 yards and has 22 receptions in three career matchups against the Texans. The Bengals running game didn’t do much better as Giovani Bernard rushed for 40 yards on seven carries and highly-touted rookie Joe Mixon managed only nine yards on eight rushes. Rookie wideout John Ross, the ninth overall pick who was clocked in 4.22 in the 40 at the NFL combine, is expected to make his NFL debut on Thursday.
Boy, what do you take out these teams’ Week 1 performances? I’ll give each team the benefit of the doubt and say that the Bengals ran into a terrific Ravens defense and that the Houston offensive line is bad (and short-handed). I don’t think either team is that bad, but the Texans will struggled with a weak O-Line and a rookie quarterback. Look for Dalton to rebound nicely and lead the Bengals to a touchdown victory.
Pick: Bengals -5.5
- Texans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a double-digit loss at home.
- Texans are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Texans are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Texans are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games in Week 2.
- Texans are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Texans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Texans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Texans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games on fieldturf.
- Texans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 14 points.
- Texans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Texans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. AFC.
- Texans are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
- Texans are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Bengals are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a double-digit loss at home.
- Bengals are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Bengals are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games in Week 2.
- Bengals are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Bengals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Bengals are 6-2-2 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Bengals are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Bengals are 18-7-2 ATS in their last 27 games in September.
- Bengals are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Bengals are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0-1 in Texans last 6 games in September.
- Under is 4-0 in Texans last 4 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Texans last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Under is 7-1 in Texans last 8 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 5-1 in Texans last 6 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 4-1 in Texans last 5 Thursday games.
- Over is 4-1 in Texans last 5 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 17-5 in Texans last 22 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Bengals last 4 Thursday games.
- Under is 4-0 in Bengals last 4 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 4-0 in Bengals last 4 games in Week 2.
- Under is 6-1 in Bengals last 7 games following a straight up loss of more than 14 points.
- Under is 5-1 in Bengals last 6 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 5-1 in Bengals last 6 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 9-2 in Bengals last 11 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-1 in Bengals last 5 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Bengals last 5 home games.
- Under is 4-1 in Bengals last 5 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Bengals last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 16-5 in Bengals last 21 vs. AFC.
- Over is 20-7 in Bengals last 27 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Under is 20-8 in Bengals last 28 games overall.
- Over is 5-2 in Bengals last 7 games following a double-digit loss at home.
- Under is 7-3 in Bengals last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Texans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings in Cincinnati.
- Texans are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 meetings.
- Underdog is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
- Road team is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
