Texans vs. Rams Point Spread: NFL Pre-Season Week 3 Odds, Prediction
Don’t laugh, but Saturday’s Texans-Rams pre-season game could be a Super Bowl preview. Yes, Houston was just 4-12 last season but it has one of the young rising superstars in the league in second-year quarterback Deshaun Watson. He was on his way to a record-setting rookie year until tearing an ACL in practice around mid-season, which ruined the Texans’ season. If Watson and defensive star J.J. Watt both stay healthy, the sky is the limit for this team.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Houston is -115 at Sports Interaction to make the playoffs and -120 to miss out. It has a win total of 8.5, with the over a solid favorite.
The Los Angeles Rams had arguably the greatest single-season offensive turnaround in league history last year in improving to 11-5 in winning the NFC West and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2004. This season’s roster looks even more talented after some big-name additions. In fact, the Rams are the +425 favourites at Sports Interaction to win the NFC title, ahead of the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (+500).
These teams played Week 10 last year in Los Angeles, and the Rams rolled 33-7. Jared Goff threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns. Watson had been lost for the year by then for Houston.
Houston Texans
Houston opened the pre-season with a 17-10 win in Kansas City and then beat visiting San Francisco 16-13 last week. Watson played very briefly (one pass attempted) vs. the Chiefs but then one series vs. the 49ers and was 5-for-8 for 73 yards. Watson should see at least a couple of series in this one if not the entire first half. Starting cornerback Kevin Johnson may sit after suffering a concussion vs. the 49ers. Watt and star WR DeAndre Hopkins have yet to play this pre-season, but Hopkins should at least play a quarter vs. L.A.
In addition, linebacker Jadeveon Clowney finally participated in team drills early this week after being limited only to individual drills because of off-season knee surgery. He is likely to play Saturday.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams were spanked 33-7 in Baltimore in their exhibition opener but won 19-15 at home vs. Oakland last week. Rookie John Kelly rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown. L.A. has yet to play Goff or superstar running back Todd Gurley this pre-season, but Coach Sean McVay said a majority of both the first-team offence and defence would start against Houston.
That should mean the Rams debuts of off-season additions Brandin Cooks, Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. However, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, perhaps the NFL’s best defender in 2017, remains a holdout looking for a new contract.
