Texans vs. Ravens Point Spread: NFL Week 12 Odds, Prediction
As is the case with many teams in the NFL this year, post-season hopes are in peril, largely due to injuries — and as they close out Week 12 from Baltimore on Monday night, the winner in this one still could still have their playoffs potential intact.
Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Houston won the AFC South last season, and Baltimore came within a Week 16 last-second loss to Pittsburgh of perhaps winning the AFC North. Both had playoff expectations in 2017, but that’s going to take some major work the rest of the way and a few breaks – especially for Monday’s loser.
The biggest individual story of this NFL season through October likely had been Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson. He was off to a record-setting start and was the clear Offensive Rookie of the Year favourite, but Watson tore his ACL during practice before Week 9. That essentially ended Houston’s playoff hopes. Baltimore lost more players to season-ending injuries, including a handful of projected starters, this summer than any team in the NFL. So, the Ravens were hamstrung before Week 1. That’s football, though: You can never predict injuries.
These are two fairly new franchises and they have played just nine times (once in playoffs). Baltimore leads 7-2, but Houston won the most recent meeting, 25-13 in 2014. The Ravens haven’t had much luck vs. the AFC South this year, losing 44-7 at Jacksonville and 23-20 at Tennessee.
Baltimore is 7-3 SU & 6-4 ATS in its past 10 as a home favourite. Houston is 3-7 SU & 5-5 ATS in its past 10 as a road dog.
Houston Texans
The Texans (4-6 SU, 6-4 ATS) got their first win Sunday since Watson went down, 31-21 over visiting Arizona. Tom Savage was solid in completing 22 of 32 for 230 yards and two scores to perhaps save his job for the moment. Rookie D’Onta Foreman had his best game as a pro in rushing for 65 yards and two scores but suffered what is being reported as a season-ending torn Achilles’ tendon injury in the fourth quarter.
Houston played without No. 2 receiver Will Fuller due to cracked ribs and he’s iffy for Monday. Fuller has seven TDs on just 17 catches this season. The Texans’ top receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, had a TD catch Sunday and leads the NFL with nine of them.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens (5-5 SU, 5-4-1 ATS) pitched their third shutout of the season Sunday, 23-0 in Green Bay; they are the first team with three in a season since the 2003 Patriots and first team to shut out the Packers at home in 11 years. The Ravens are the fifth team with three shutouts over the past 30 years. Three of the first four won the Super Bowl (which includes 2000 Ravens).
Baltimore’s offense didn’t do much with only 219 yards, but the defense forced five Green Bay turnovers and sacked Packers backup QB Brett Hundley six times. Baltimore won’t catch Pittsburgh in the AFC North but is the final wild-card team in the conference as things stand currently.
