Texans vs. Titans Point Spread: NFL Week 15 Odds, Prediction
Stroud suffered a concussion in Houston’s shocking 30-6 loss to the Jets that blew a chance for the Texans to get into a tie atop the AFC South. Stroud being in concussion protocol means he did not practice to start the week, but head coach DeMeco Ryans did tell media Stroud’s doing better and has not ruled him out as of Thursday morning.
The Titans remain in the basement of the AFC South at 5-8 but are coming off a shocking result of their own, defeating Miami 28-27 last Monday. Tennessee’s found themselves on the wrong side of some close contests this season, hence the 5-8 record, but the comeback win over Miami can do wonders for their own rookie quarterback in Will Levis.
Kickoff at Nissan Stadium begins at 1 p.m. EST with the Titans a 2.5-point favourite on home field and the over-under set at 37.5 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Despite a sub .500 record this season the Titans have been strong at home with wins in four of their six home contests. Houston’s struggled on the road this season too going 2-4. Sunday’s the first of two meetings in the next 14 days for these clubs, but the Titans are 5-2 in their last seven clashes with the Texans.
The under has hit in six of the last seven Texans–Titans games played in Tennessee. The Texans have trended to the under overall this season too, with seven of their last 10 games finishing under the total. And 14 of Tennessee’s last 19 home games have went under too. Houston hasn’t gone over 22 points in the last four weeks.
Houston Texans
If Stroud can’t go Sunday, he not only adds to the list of key Texans offensive players out with injuries but it means a veteran will get the start. Either Davis Mills or Case Keenum will start for Houston; the duo has a combined 90 NFL starts. Mills is probably the more likely of the two after playing in 28 games and throwing nearly 1,000 passes for Houston over the past two seasons. But as mentioned, the team’s already lost rookie receiver Tank Dell to a broken leg and now 1,000-yard receiver Nico Collins (calf) was among the non-participants in Wednesday’s practice.
Houston’s injury list is long — rookie defensive lineman Will Anderson Jr. sat out with an ankle injury, receiver Noah Brown was limited with a knee. And then offensive linemen George Fant, Laremy Tunsil, and Shaq Mason are all dealing with injures too.
Tennessee Titans
Will Levis has had his big NFL moment and it came via a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive followed by a four-play, 64-yard touchdown drive in the final three minutes at Miami. Those drives got Tennessee the final 15 points of the game in the 28-27 victory, as Mike Vrabel’s analytics-driven decision to go for two points (and convert it) on the first score paid off.
Levis is looking more and more like a rookie Tennessee can work with under centre, and it helps when he has veteran stars DeAndre Hopkins and Derrick Henry helping by scoring those final touchdowns. Hopkins was everything Tennessee hoped he would be on Monday, leading the team with seven grabs for 124 yards and a touchdown. Hopkins now has over half of the Titans receiving touchdowns this season and is 102 yards shy of his seventh 1,000-yard campaign.
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