Houston Texans Betting Odds – NFL Football Future Lines
Let’s take a look at the numbers:
betED NFL Football Betting Odds – Houston Texans Odds To Win AFC South – +325
Season Over/Under Win Total Betting Odds From beted.com – 8.5
Fish-or-cut-bait time has arrived in southeast Texas, where for seven years the Texans have toiled in relative obscurity and less than a year ago fans’ hopes were shattered by an 0-4 start. No team in the league sensing legitimate playoff vibes needs a quick start more than Houston does.
The Texans should score plenty, if not consistently. A playoff spot could be had if they can move into the top half of the league defensively. Everyone has stopped making fun of the Texans for picking DE Mario Williams over Reggie Bush a few years back, and Houston has signed run-stuffer Antonio Smith to add depth and quality in the D-line. DeMarco Ryans and Brian Cushing are solid linebackers who will have to protect a secondary that just doesn’t make a lot of plays. 
Triggerman Matt Schaub needs to figure out a way to stay on the field. Schaub last season threw for 3,043 yards, more than 10 other quarterbacks who played more games than he did. Andre Johnson is a top-five NFL receiver, and 31 other teams would love to have wideout Kevin Walter (60 catches, 8 TDs, 899 yards) as their No. 2. Steve Slaton came out of nowhere and ran for nearly 5 yards a carry. There’s no talk of a 2-back rotation.
The first quarter of the schedule (Jets at home, at Tennessee, and Jacksonville and Oakland at home) is doable. If the Texans get off 1-3 or 0-4, though, fans at Big John’s Sports Bar on Wilcrest will be throwing popcorn at the big screens.
Surprising stat: Andre Johnson’s 1,575 receiving yards led the NFL last season, and were a full 10 percent more than the total posted by No. 2, Larry Fitzgerald (1,431).
Team strengths: If nothing else, these guys will move the chains. The offense heads into the season as the second-best in the AFC South, and if Peyton Manning slips on a banana peel, the Texans could make things uncomfortable for the Colts in the division.
Team Weakness: No real red flags, but there are concerns. The defense was bad enough last year that head coach Gary Kubiak fired the defensive coordinator, line coach and secondary coach. The offense, perhaps figuring the defense was way too leaky, tried to make too many big plays and turned over the ball a bit too much. The offensive line is hardly dominant.
Texans 2009 Season Win Total Prediction – 9
Next Up: Carolina Panthers
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Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling and travel writer from Massachusetts.
3 replies on “Houston Texans 2009 NFL Football Future Lines”
The Texans have become a popular choice to emerge from the AFC South this season, but I’m not completely sold on their actual ability to do it.
I still think Payton Manning will have something to say about which team wins this division.
If their D reaches a TOP 10 level this year I think we might be able to expect good things…but I don’t trust that offense just yet.
Finishing the last two straight seasons with an 8-8 record, the Texans are poised to have a breakout season in 2009. They have added some defensive players in the off-season that addresses the team’s weakness as their offense has improved for four straight years now. With players like Steve Slaton, Andre Johnson, and Mario Williams to go along with a very solid Matt Schaub at quarterback, the Texans have the pieces in place for a playoff bid. Coming off of an excellent rookie campaign, RB Steve Slaton should bean excellent addition to this year’s team. WR Andre Johnson led the AFC in 2008 with 115 catches for 1575 yards earning him his third Pro Bowl selection. He has proven that he is now one of the NFL’s best receivers and shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. The Texans defense will be solid and will depend upon DE Mario Williams, who accounted for 26 sacks over the last two seasons. Houston will end the season with a 10-6 record.