New York Jets at Houston Texans
Monday, 8/15/11, 8:00 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Houston -2.5
Current Betting Line: Houston -2.5
Opening Total: 35
Current Total: 34.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
New York will be facing the Houston Texans for the first time in preseason action, but comes in with a 5-0 mark versus the franchise in regular season meetings. The Jets won three of those five games by five-or-less points. Head coach Rex Ryan will enter his third season and has compiled a 20-12 regular season record and 4-2 mark in postseason action. Both of his first two years ended with losses in the AFC title game. Quarterback Mark Sanchez has been along for the ride from the beginning, as he threw for a career-high 3,291 passing yards and 17 touchdown passes a year ago.
The Jets have not had a losing preseason since 1996, a streak that spans 14 seasons and includes 10 winning marks. New York posted a 2-2 SU record during last year’s exhibition, but covered both instances as a road underdog. Ryan has led the franchise to a 4-0 ATS mark as an underdog during preseason action. Few changes have been made to the roster, as 18-of-22 starters return, but the biggest offseason acquisition was the signing of wide receiver Plaxico Burress. He became a member of the team on July 31 after serving a 20-month prison sentence on a gun charge. Burress will not make the trip to the Lone Star State.
Houston comes off a disappointing 6-10 season that started with a bang, handing the Indianapolis Colts a 34-24 defeat at Reliant Stadium. The Texans entered a Week 7 bye week with a 4-2 record, but then proceeded to drop eight of their last 10 games. Few teams are better offensively in the NFL, finishing fourth in passing yards and seventh on the ground, averaging 259 and 127.6 yards respectively. Bettors have had a hard time backing this team over the last two campaigns, entering the 2011 season with a 12-18-2 ATS mark.
The Texans struggles come on the defensive side of the ball, especially against opposing quarterbacks, ranking last in allowing 267.5 passing yards a game last year. Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips comes in and assumed the role as defensive coordinator and will be implementing a new 3-4 defensive scheme. New faces will be lining up for the unit, including free agent signings Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning. Houston also used six of its eight draft picks to help Phillips’ cause.
Bettors will likely back the Jets due to their preseason success as an underdog under Ryan, while the Texans are 2-9 ATS under head coach Gary Kubiak when favored in exhibition play.
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