Texans-Giants
Time: Noon CST
Spread: HOU -1
Total: 41

Betting Odds c/o Bovada

The Houston Texans are 2-0 after a Week 1 win against the Washington Redskins and a 30-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders in Week 2. The rush has been very effective for the Texans, and the pass has been effective too, just less utilized. Arian Foster is the reason for the success in the backfield, as he’s rushed for 241 yards on 55 carries with a TD.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has amassed 345 yards with a 68.3 percent. He’s made wise choices in the pocket and has three TDs with no interceptions. Fitzpatrick has a 118.4 QB rating, and has helped revitalize the Texans’ offense.

But Foster has to receive the lion’s share of the credit. He’s been consistent, and strong. Both games he’s rushed for over 100 yards, and against the Raiders he committed no fumbles. Over his career, Foster now has 5,304 rushing yards and 1,743 receiving yards. He’s scored 46 rushing TDs and seven via the pass over his NFL career.

The Texans defense will have a nice injection of talent to an already formidable group when No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney makes his debut. He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, and is 6’5.” 266. That’s something that can’t be taught, and wit those tools he should be one of the best defensive ends in the NFL very quickly. The Texans are hoping he is back within two to four weeks.

Things are a bit tougher for the New York Giants, though the team is just a one-point underdog in this game. Week 1, the Giants lost 35-14 to the Detroit Lions and Week 2, it fell 25-14 to the Arizona Cardinals. The rush has been very ineffective, generating just 67 yards per game, and though the passing is seemingly better, 202.0 yards per game by Eli Manning is nowhere endear enough. He also has Odell Beckham Jr, drafted No. 12 overall but he is out due to a hamstring injury this week.

Larry Donnell and running back Rashad Jennings have generated the most passing yardage on the team. Jennings has rushed for 110 yards on 3.2 yards per carry, but has 95 receiving yards on the season. Donnell has scored a TD and has 12 receptions with 17 yards after reception. Jennings has scored one TD running and another receiving. His first five NFL seasons saw him catch 105 passes and rush for 1,787 yards over that span, but he has a good chance to at least put up two-thirds of his career totals just this season with a much larger role thrust upon his shoulders.

Eli Manning is struggling. He’s thrown more INTs (4) than TDs (3) and has a QB rating of just 69.2
Manning had a pair of interceptions both weeks, and in the loss to the Lions in Week 1 he threw for just 163 yards on 54 percent, while throwing for just one TD.

A pocket passer, Manning is no threat to opposing defenses on the ground, and without Jennings’ standout play this season, all would be awash for Eli. Last season, hew as just as bad, throwing just 57.5 percent for completion and finishing with a QB rating of 69.4. He hasn’t been over 90.0 since 2011.