Texans Looking For Third Straight Win Against Lowly Bengals
After dropping their first four games of the 2008-09 season, the Houston Texans (2-4 SU, 2-4 ATS, 6-0 O/U), enter their Week 8 matchup against the winless Cincinnati Bengals (0-7 SU, 2-5 ATS, 3-4 O/U), looking for their third consecutive victory.
The Texans managed to beat the only other winless team on Sunday, though they nearly collapsed in the fourth quarter in beating the Detroit Lions 28-21 while failing to cover as 11-point home favorites.
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub completed 26 of 31 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns, throwing two touchdowns to tight end Owen Daniels and hooking up with wide receiver Andre Johnson 11 times for 141 yards.
The Bengals were unmercifully pounded by the Steelers’ league-leading defense in losing 38-10 as 9-point home underdogs, watching backup quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jordan Palmer get repeatedly ground into ‘meat’ as Pittsburgh recorded seven sacks on the day.
Fitzpatrick did manage to throw one touchdown while completing 21 of 35 passes for 164 yards.
Here is a look at the key trends for each team, followed by my in-depth analysis and NFL Free Picks:
Bengals
Cincinnati is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Cincinnati is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Cincinnati’s last 13 games
Cincinnati is 4-7-1 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
Cincinnati is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Texans
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Houston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston’s last 5 games
Houston is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Houston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston’s last 6 games at home
NFL Odds
Cincinnati Bengals +10 -110
Houston Texans -10 -110
Over 44 -110
Under 44 -110
Analysis: While I like the Texans to win this game, something tells me the Cincinnati Bengals are going to cover the spread as they did in each of the two contests in which they were double-digit underdogs this season. I like the Over and Cincy to cover BetUS NFL Sportsbook bettors!
