Buccaneers vs. Texans Point Spread: NFL Week 9 Odds, Prediction
The Texans recorded decisive victories over Pittsburgh and New Orleans in their past two home dates, but have struggled to generate consistent offence while posting just one win in their past three overall. The Buccaneers arrive in Houston riding a three-game straight up losing streak after dropping a 24-18 decision in Buffalo last week on Thursday Night Football, and have averaged just 14.8 points per game during an overall 1-4 swoon.
The Texans are pegged as narrow 2.5-point favourites on the NFL Week 9 odds. The Buccaneers are listed as +125 moneyline underdogs while the total sits at 40.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Buccaneers have felt the impact of Baker Mayfield’s recent knee injury during their 1-4 slide, and have scored just 12.3 points per game while losing straight. Those struggles have helped extend a steady run of success for the UNDER, which has paid out in five straight contests. However, the Bucs have remained a formidable opponent on the road, winning three of their past five including a pair of outright victories as road underdogs, and have also covered the spread in three straight away contests. Riding high in the wake of back-to-back convincing wins over Jacksonville and Pittsburgh, the Texans have averaged just 17.3 points during their current 1-2 run. However, the defence has been their salvation, allowing just 14.4 points per game over their past five contests while, powering a solid 4-1 run against the spread.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield has stated that he plans to play through the pain of his recent knee injury. However, how long this team can go on without generating consistent scoring is another story. Mayfield managed to connect on a pair of scoring passes in last week’s loss in Buffalo, but has increasingly struggled to maintain accuracy while completing just 58.7% of pass attempts for an average of just 239.3 passing yards during the team’s three-game slide. Mayfield’s woes are further complicated to injuries on his offensive line including Matt Feiler and Tristan Wirfs, both of whom found their way onto the Wednesday injury report. Veteran Mike Evans has remained a steady contributor with scoring catches in each of the past two games. However, both Mayfield and rusher Rachaad White face a daunting task to move the ball on the ground against a Texans rush defence that has allowed just 66.5 rushing yards per game over their past two contests, and just one total scoring run in their past four.
Houston Texans
The growing pains continued for CJ Stroud with last weekend’s showdown in Carolina with his NFL Draft Day rival Bryce Young. While Stroud managed to produce his first scoring run of the season, he otherwise struggled to tally 140 passing yards, and failed to find a target in the end zone for the first time since Week 1. Stroud has struggled to find targets during the team’s 1-2 slide, completing just 56% of pass attempts and has failed to top 200 passing yards in each of the past two games. Stroud’s woes are not helped by a growing number of injuries that kept several key players off the field during Wednesday practice including rusher Dameon Pearce, receiver Robert Woods, and offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil. Woods made a scoring reception last week, but has struggled to pull in targets, catching just 10 of the 24 passes sent his way over the past four games. Conversely, Pearce has emerged as the team’s top rusher while recording 327 yards in seven outings. However, this team needs more out of a backfield that has scored just three times this season.
TB
HOU