The stage is set for two young, bright QBs to engage in battle when the Houston Texans visit the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.
Beyond this being Round 1 of an important AFC South rivalry, there are plenty of reasons to get excited about this match. The Texans blew everyone away in 2023 until they ran into the Ravens in the playoffs. What can head coach DeMeco Ryans and QB C.J. Stroud cook up for their sophomore campaign? Conversely, the Colts saw their hopes of re-emerging as a threat squashed when QB Anthony Richardson’s rookie campaign ended prematurely. Is 2024 when they renew the franchise’s lustre of yesteryear?
Speaking about this game being a good one the NFL odds favour the visiting Texans but only by -3. There could be fireworks given the over-under of 49.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Technically speaking, this is not the first Stroud vs. Richardson bout. However, their initial round was cut short when Indy’s 2023 first-round draft pick left their September 2023 match early due to injury. The Colts still won the day 31-20 down in Houston. The Texans got the last laugh, winning a cleverly scheduled, Saturday night Week 18 game in Indianapolis 23-19 to take the division and earn a playoff berth. The less said about the dropped fourth-quarter pass by Indy, the better.
Indianapolis leads the series over the 10 most recent têtes-à-têtes 6-4-1. That’s right, these familiar foes played to a bizarre (play-calling-wise) 20-20 draw in Week 1 of the ’22 season. It is fun knowing that both franchises have promising young QBs after the lugubrious post-Andrew Luck and DeShaun Watson eras.
Excluding the postseason, the Texans went 9-8 against the spread last season. That’s not bad at all for a squad that was led by an inexperienced quarterback and head coach. Houston was solid at covering the spread on the road too, going 4-4 on the season.
The Colts were well on their way to having a nice campaign ATS in 2023. As they entered mid-December they sported a 9-5 tally. Unfortunately, they failed to cover their final three matches, thus finishing 9-8.
Houston Texans
When so many players on an already strong roster are young, that usually means they don’t cost much, at least not yet. When that’s the case, a team like the Texans can sign a stud like WR Stefon Diggs in the offseason.
That alone is sensational given that Stroud was having a great campaign tossing dimes to Tank Dell (who fell to injury late), Nico Hollins, and TE Dalton Schultz. Yes, Diggs is expensive, but nobody else costs that much this season. To cap it off, Houston traded for former Bengals ball carrier Joe Mixon. The seven-year vet has a quartet of 1K campaigns to his name.
Although the defence was prone to coughing up decent yardage last year (330.7 total per match), they would bend but not break (20.8 points against). Honestly, with this sort of firepower, the opposition putting up 20.8 points on the board shouldn’t worry the Texans too much in theory.
Indianapolis Colts
Let’s try this again. 2023 didn’t go according to plan for head coach Shane Steichen and the Colts, but some of that was out of their control. Richardson’s campaign was cut short early, and there’s nothing one can do when a receiver drops a very catchable fourth-down pass late in Week 18 in a one-score game. It happens.
Although, understandably, many questions surround the club’s sophomore gunslinger, the health of RB Jonathan Taylor is not to be overlooked. He hasn’t played a full season since 2021. The word out of training camp and pre-season is that the staff likes 2024 draftee WR Adonai Mitchell.
The defence is surprisingly young, with CBs Juju Brents (questionable) and Jaylon Jones entering their second seasons. S Julian Blackman is by far one of their most experienced secondary players and he’s only entering his fifth season.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Texans vs. Colts?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 16 May 4:43pm | IND | -1.5 -110 | O +47.5 -110 |
| Closing 8 Sep 7:44pm | IND | -8.5 -140 | O +52.5 -105 |
- Regular Season
Texans Team Leaders
| Touchdowns |
2 |
| Rushing |
159 |
| Passing |
234 |
| Receiving |
6 |
| Sacks |
1 |
| Interceptions |
1 |
| Touchdowns |
1 |
| Rushing |
56 |
| Passing |
212 |
| Receiving |
4 |
| Sacks |
1.5 |
| Interceptions |
0 |
- Regular Season
Colts Team Leaders
| Touchdowns |
2 |
| Rushing |
159 |
| Passing |
234 |
| Receiving |
6 |
| Sacks |
1 |
| Interceptions |
1 |
| Touchdowns |
1 |
| Rushing |
56 |
| Passing |
212 |
| Receiving |
4 |
| Sacks |
1.5 |
| Interceptions |
0 |
Weather
| temp | 63 |
| condition | sunny |
| wind | Northeast 3mph |
Injuries
Dalton Schultz (TE)
Jeff Okudah (CB)
M.J. Stewart (S)
Cameron Erving (OT)
Kurt Hinish (DT)
Andrew Beck (FB)
Kris Boyd (CB)
Christian Harris (LB)
Charlie Heck (OT)
Brandon Hill (S)
Julian Blackmon (S)
Kwity Paye (DE)
JuJu Brents (CB)
DeForest Buckner (DT)
Wesley French (C)
Daniel Scott (S)
Juwann Winfree (WR)
Ryan Coll (C)
Matt Gay (K)
Cameron McGrone (LB)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton Schultz (TE) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 11 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Schultz is bothered by an ankle injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be active for Sunday's clash against the Bears. |
|||||
| Jeff Okudah (CB) | Mid Oct | Hip - 09 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Okudah has been placed on the injured reserve with a hip injury, and he is expected to be sidelined until mid October. |
|||||
| M.J. Stewart (S) | Que Sun | Knee - 06 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Stewart is dealing with knee injury, and it is undetermined if he will play Sunday against the Bears. |
|||||
| Cameron Erving (OT) | Early Oct | Undisclosed - 06 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Erving is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and he will miss at least the first four games of the season. |
|||||
| Kurt Hinish (DT) | Mid Oct | Undisclosed - 02 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Hinish is nursing an undisclosed injury, and he is expected to be sidelined until mid October. |
|||||
| Andrew Beck (FB) | Ques Sept. 8 | Calf - 27 / 08 / 24 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Beck is dealing with a calf injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will play against Colts on September 8th. |
|||||
| Kris Boyd (CB) | Ques Sun | Leg - 27 / 08 / 24 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Boyd is managing a leg injury, and it is unknown if he will play against the Colts on Sunday. |
|||||
| Christian Harris (LB) | Mid Oct | Calf - 27 / 08 / 24 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Harris is dealing with a calf injury, and he is expected to be sidelined until mid October. |
|||||
| Charlie Heck (OT) | Ques Sept. 8 | Foot - 27 / 08 / 24 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Heck injured his foot, and it is unknown if he will play against Colts on September 8th. |
|||||
| Brandon Hill (S) | Out indefinitely | Leg - 27 / 08 / 24 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Hill is dealing with a leg injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will return to action. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julian Blackmon (S) | Ques Sun | Shoulder - 11 / 09 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Blackmon is managing a shoulder injury, and it has yet to be established if he will face Sunday's contest against the Packers. |
|||||
| Kwity Paye (DE) | Ques Sun | Hamstring - 11 / 09 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Paye is dealing with a hamstring injury, and it is undetermined if he will be active for Sunday's tilt against the Packers. |
|||||
| JuJu Brents (CB) | out of season | Knee - 10 / 09 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Brents is sidelined due to knee injury, and it is projected that he will miss the remainder of the season. |
|||||
| DeForest Buckner (DT) | Ques Sun | Back - 09 / 09 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Buckner is dealing with a back injury, and it is uncertain if he will face the Packers on Sunday. |
|||||
| Wesley French (C) | Out indefinitely | Ankle - 09 / 09 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
French is dealing with an ankle injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Daniel Scott (S) | Out indefinitely | Achilles - 09 / 09 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Scott has been placed on the IR list due to an achilles injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Juwann Winfree (WR) | Out indefinitely | Undisclosed - 09 / 09 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Winfree is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Ryan Coll (C) | Out indefinitely | Undisclosed - 09 / 09 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Coll has been placed on the IR list due to an undisclosed injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Matt Gay (K) | Ques Sun | Groin - 02 / 09 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Gay is suffering with sports hernia injury, and it is unclear if he will face the Packers on Sunday. |
|||||
| Cameron McGrone (LB) | Early Oct | Undisclosed - 29 / 08 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Mcgrone is sidelined due to an undisclosed injury, and he will miss at least the first four games of the season. |
|||||
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 16 May 4:43pm IND -1.5 -110 O +47.5 -110 Closing 8 Sep 7:44pm IND -8.5 -140 O +52.5 -105 -
- Regular Season
Texans Team Leaders
Touchdowns 2
Rushing 159
Passing 234
Receiving 6
Sacks 1
Interceptions 1
Touchdowns 1
Rushing 56
Passing 212
Receiving 4
Sacks 1.5
Interceptions 0
-
- Regular Season
Colts Team Leaders
Touchdowns 2
Rushing 159
Passing 234
Receiving 6
Sacks 1
Interceptions 1
Touchdowns 1
Rushing 56
Passing 212
Receiving 4
Sacks 1.5
Interceptions 0
-
Weather
temp 63 condition sunny wind Northeast 3mph -
Injuries
Dalton Schultz (TE)
Ques Sun Ankle - 11 / 09 / 24Jeff Okudah (CB)
Mid Oct Hip - 09 / 09 / 24M.J. Stewart (S)
Que Sun Knee - 06 / 09 / 24Cameron Erving (OT)
Early Oct Undisclosed - 06 / 09 / 24Kurt Hinish (DT)
Mid Oct Undisclosed - 02 / 09 / 24Andrew Beck (FB)
Ques Sept. 8 Calf - 27 / 08 / 24Kris Boyd (CB)
Ques Sun Leg - 27 / 08 / 24Christian Harris (LB)
Mid Oct Calf - 27 / 08 / 24Charlie Heck (OT)
Ques Sept. 8 Foot - 27 / 08 / 24Brandon Hill (S)
Out indefinitely Leg - 27 / 08 / 24Julian Blackmon (S)
Ques Sun Shoulder - 11 / 09 / 24Kwity Paye (DE)
Ques Sun Hamstring - 11 / 09 / 24JuJu Brents (CB)
out of season Knee - 10 / 09 / 24DeForest Buckner (DT)
Ques Sun Back - 09 / 09 / 24Wesley French (C)
Out indefinitely Ankle - 09 / 09 / 24Daniel Scott (S)
Out indefinitely Achilles - 09 / 09 / 24Juwann Winfree (WR)
Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 09 / 09 / 24Ryan Coll (C)
Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 09 / 09 / 24Matt Gay (K)
Ques Sun Groin - 02 / 09 / 24Cameron McGrone (LB)
Early Oct Undisclosed - 29 / 08 / 24Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Dalton Schultz (TE) Ques Sun Ankle - 11 / 09 / 24 2-0 0-2 + - Schultz is bothered by an ankle injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be active for Sunday's clash against the Bears.
Jeff Okudah (CB) Mid Oct Hip - 09 / 09 / 24 2-0 0-2 + - Okudah has been placed on the injured reserve with a hip injury, and he is expected to be sidelined until mid October.
M.J. Stewart (S) Que Sun Knee - 06 / 09 / 24 2-0 0-2 + - Stewart is dealing with knee injury, and it is undetermined if he will play Sunday against the Bears.
Cameron Erving (OT) Early Oct Undisclosed - 06 / 09 / 24 2-0 0-2 + - Erving is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and he will miss at least the first four games of the season.
Kurt Hinish (DT) Mid Oct Undisclosed - 02 / 09 / 24 2-0 0-2 + - Hinish is nursing an undisclosed injury, and he is expected to be sidelined until mid October.
Andrew Beck (FB) Ques Sept. 8 Calf - 27 / 08 / 24 2-0 0-2 + - Beck is dealing with a calf injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will play against Colts on September 8th.
Kris Boyd (CB) Ques Sun Leg - 27 / 08 / 24 2-0 0-2 + - Boyd is managing a leg injury, and it is unknown if he will play against the Colts on Sunday.
Christian Harris (LB) Mid Oct Calf - 27 / 08 / 24 2-0 0-2 + - Harris is dealing with a calf injury, and he is expected to be sidelined until mid October.
Charlie Heck (OT) Ques Sept. 8 Foot - 27 / 08 / 24 2-0 0-2 + - Heck injured his foot, and it is unknown if he will play against Colts on September 8th.
Brandon Hill (S) Out indefinitely Leg - 27 / 08 / 24 2-0 0-2 + - Hill is dealing with a leg injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will return to action.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Julian Blackmon (S) Ques Sun Shoulder - 11 / 09 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Blackmon is managing a shoulder injury, and it has yet to be established if he will face Sunday's contest against the Packers.
Kwity Paye (DE) Ques Sun Hamstring - 11 / 09 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Paye is dealing with a hamstring injury, and it is undetermined if he will be active for Sunday's tilt against the Packers.
JuJu Brents (CB) out of season Knee - 10 / 09 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Brents is sidelined due to knee injury, and it is projected that he will miss the remainder of the season.
DeForest Buckner (DT) Ques Sun Back - 09 / 09 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Buckner is dealing with a back injury, and it is uncertain if he will face the Packers on Sunday.
Wesley French (C) Out indefinitely Ankle - 09 / 09 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - French is dealing with an ankle injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Daniel Scott (S) Out indefinitely Achilles - 09 / 09 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Scott has been placed on the IR list due to an achilles injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Juwann Winfree (WR) Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 09 / 09 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Winfree is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Ryan Coll (C) Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 09 / 09 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Coll has been placed on the IR list due to an undisclosed injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Matt Gay (K) Ques Sun Groin - 02 / 09 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Gay is suffering with sports hernia injury, and it is unclear if he will face the Packers on Sunday.
Cameron McGrone (LB) Early Oct Undisclosed - 29 / 08 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Mcgrone is sidelined due to an undisclosed injury, and he will miss at least the first four games of the season.