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Andrew Rogers
Texans vs. Eagles Point Spread: NFL Week 16 Odds, Prediction
The month of December hasn’t been kind to bettors who have leaned on the Houston Texans in recent years – but the AFC South leaders are in good position to end their cover drought for the month as they visit the defending-champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Houston entered the season having failed to cover in its previous seven December games – but this December has produced a decent 1-1-1 ATS mark through three games, and the Texans are a profitable 5-2-1 against spread in their previous eight games overall. The Eagles, on the other hand, have covered just one of their past six games at Lincoln Financial Field and are on a four-game run of failing to cover the week after a successful ATS result.
Both teams come in with compelling under trends against a total of 45.5 for Sunday’s tilt. The Texans have gone below the number eight times with a push in their past 10 Week 16 games, and are 8-3 to the under in their last 11 games following a victory. Philadelphia has slipped below the number in six of its previous seven home games, but is 6-2 to the over in its previous eight contests after covering last time out.
Houston Texans
While the Texans’ defence deservedly gets the lion’s share of the attention, the offensive line is going to be critical to Houston’s success, both this weekend and in the postseason. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has been sacked a whopping 52 times so far in 2018, the most of any QB in the league. But Sunday might represent a get-right spot against an Eagles defence that ranks in the middle of the pack in sacks, but had just one in last week’s stunning win over the Rams.
Philadelphia Eagles
The final stat line doesn’t look all that impressive – 24-of-31 for 270 yards with zero touchdown passes and an interception – but Foles performed admirably in place of Carson Wentz, putting the Eagles in position to pull off the upset in Los Angeles. But one week after containing NFL sacks leader Aaron Donald, the Philadelphia offensive line will have its hands full yet again with a Houston pass rush averaging 3.0 sacks per game on the road.
