San Francisco is coming off a 15-14 triumph over the Chicago Bears that won’t appear in any list of the greatest games of the 2017, but did even the 49ers’ ATS record at 6-6 for the season. Houston is in freefall after a 24-13 setback at Tennessee last weekend, losers of five of its last six.

Point Spread and Betting Analysis

In what might be the ultimate statement on the Texans’ season, they’ve gone from Super Bowl contender to a one-field-goal home favorite against a team that didn’t win its first game of the season until Week 10. San Francisco has taken care of business against weaker hosts, covering in four of its previous five road games against teams with losing home records. But the majority of Sports Interaction bettors aren’t buying it, with 75 percent taking Houston to cover.

Neither team’s offence has inspired bettors, with 64 percent of Sports Interaction participants leaning toward the under on the 43-point total. The 49ers have rewarded under bettors of late, going below the total in four of their last five games. Houston has been just as accommodating overall, going 1-4 O/U in its previous five outings – but it has been a different story at NRG Stadium, where the Texans have exceeded the total in four of their last five games.

San Francisco 49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo made his highly anticipated debut at quarterback for San Francisco last week, and the reviews are mostly positive. The former New England Patriots backup asserted himself well against a stout Chicago pass defence, completing 28-of-39 passes for 311 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He’ll likely remain busy for a 49ers team that throws the ball 63.5 percent of the time, the highest rate in the league.

Houston Texans

As much as people focus on the injury to quarterback Deshaun Watson as the turning point of the Texans’ season, the defence deserves some of the spotlight, as well. Houston is allowing an average of 25.8 points per game – 28th out of 32 teams – and opponents are scoring 0.430 points per play against the Texans, the third-highest rate in the NFL. One positive: Teams are converting just 34.2 percent of their third downs vs. the Texans, good for sixth overall.

49ers vs Texans Prediction