NFL Week 15: Texans vs. Colts odds, preview, and pick
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire).
December 18th, 2020
An AFC South showdown awaits fans and bettors at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday afternoon (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS) as the Houston Texans (4-9) visit the Indianapolis Colts (9-4). Will the Colts grab a win and keep pace with the AFC’s best, or will the Texans pull off an upset? Here’s our betting preview.
Week 13’s meeting was a thriller
The Colts topped the Texans, 26-20, when these clubs met at NRG Stadium in Week 13. However, Houston had the ball at the goal line with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter before turning it over and missing their chance at a go-ahead score.
The #Texans fumble away the game on the goal line and the #Colts recover #INDvsHOU #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/4odXZG1aSp
— The Game Day NFL (@TheGameDayNFL) December 6, 2020
This result suggests Indianapolis won’t simply walk over their division rival here.
Texans and Colts went in different directions last Sunday
The Texans were manhandled by the Chicago Bears in Week 14, suffering a 36-7 defeat. Houston’s wide receiving corps was decimated as Will Fuller V began a six-game suspension, Randall Cobb hit the IR and Brandin Cooks was ruled out, but that hardly explains such a lopsided loss.
Texans and Colts statistics and rankings
| Team Name | Passing Yards | Rushing Yards | Passing Yards Allowed | Rushing Yards Allowed |
|---|
Houston Texans | 270.2, 5th | 86.2, 32nd | 254.3, 24th | 152.3, 31st |
Indianapolis Colts | 267.3, 8th | 113.0, 15th | 227.8, 13th | 99.2, 5th |
The Texans will at least get Cooks back this week, but bettors have to wonder if this team is “phoning it in” with their playoff hopes dashed.
Meanwhile, the Colts shook off their near-defeat in Week 13 with an emphatic 44-27 triumph over the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday. Running back Johnathan Taylor was the star of the game, rushing for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.
He gone. 💨#ProBowlVote x @JayT23#ProBowlVote x @JayT23#ProBowlVote x @JayT23
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 13, 2020
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/oCfPjJ6ICm
Rivers and Watson should face little resistance
Colts signal caller Philip Rivers is in the midst of a sensational 39-year-old season (68.1% completion rate, 7.7 yards per attempt, 20 touchdowns, nine interceptions) and showing no signs of slowing down. He should feast on a Houston defense that’s allowed 254.3 passing yards per game in 2020, 24th in the NFL.
T.Y. Hilton is still elite.
— David Wysong (@DavidWysong_) December 13, 2020
Oh, and Philip Rivers still has a CANNON.pic.twitter.com/N6o35wlQe3
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson should have a fine day throwing too. The fourth-year signal caller sports a 109.4 passer rating and matches up with an Indy defense that’s surrendered 293.5 passing yards per game over its last four tilts.
Trends suggest Over bettors will cash
The Over is 5-1 in the Colts’ last six divisional games, with an identical record in Indy’s last six games following a straight-up win.
The Texans have exceeded the total in six of their last eight road games.
Score prediction: Colts 34, Texans 27
NFL pick: Over 51 points
Wager on all NFL Week 15 action on BetAmerica!
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