NFL Week 8 Picks: Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans

Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday, 10/26/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Houston -1
Current Betting Line: Houston -2.5
Opening Total: 43.5
Current Total: 42
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Houston Texans have a good opportunity to end their current losing streak

Houston has lost three games in a row, including a 30-23 setback to the Pittsburgh Steelers as three-point road underdogs on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, but it did win the statistical battle by 65 yards. The Texans will feature running back Arian Foster in this matchup, which is important to consider when making your Week 8 NFL betting picks, as he ranks second in the league with 615 rushing yards. Houston is 6-7 SU and 5-8 ATS versus AFC South division opponents the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 7-6 in that situation.

The Texans are looking to get more production from signal-caller Ryan Fitzpatrick in first-year head coach Bill O’Brien’s system, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting lines, as he’s averaging 218.6 passing yards per game. He’s certainly familiar with this week’s opponents personnel on the other side of the ball, as he compiled a 82.0 passer rating in 11 games as a member of the Titans in 2013. The franchise has won three of its four meetings in this series.

Tennessee has dropped five of its last six games, which has led first-year head coach Ken Whisenhunt to make a decision under center, as he intends on starting former LSU Tigers star Zach Mettenberger. The Titans haven’t been very balanced offensively with No. 1 starter Jake Locker being injured and backup Charlie Whitehurst being mediocre at best—resulting in just 76 yards on the ground in a 19-17 defeat to the Washington Redskins in Week 7. Tennessee is 4-10 SU and 2-10-2 ATS versus division opponents the last two-plus seasons, with no clear edge in the betting total (7-7 Over/Under).

The Titans are just looking for a spark on the offensive end, as they were held to just 236 total yards a week ago—the lowest such number for the team in 17 contests dating back to last season. Tennessee will find things difficult on that side of the ball once again, as it has to find a way to block Houston all-world defensive lineman J.J. Watt, who is a legitimate NFL MVP candidate.