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Houston Texans Super Bowl XLIX Betting Lines & 2014 NFL Preview

2014 Houston Predictions

The Houston Texans entered the 2013 NFL season with high hopes. They were thought to be contenders for a shot at a Super Bowl, but they ultimately flopped their way to an abysmal 2-14 record. Now it’s time to see if the offseason changes can get them back to where they were expected to be a year ago, which is far away from the basement of the league.

2013 Record: 2-14
ATS: 4-12
Texans Odds to win the 2015 AFC South Division: 3/1
Texans Odds to win the 2015 AFC Conference: 28/1
Texans Odds to win the 2015 Super Bowl: 66/1
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Let’s take a look at the numbers

Before we analyze the moves Houston made this past offseason, we’d be remiss not to look at one of the biggest stories of the summer: Andre Johnson and his contract dispute. Johnson has returned to practice as of July 25, but his holdout took up most of the offseason, and it led to questions of whether or not he’d be moved, especially after hearing reports that he wanted out.

Assuming Johnson stays and the relationship isn’t butchered, we move onto the fact that this team should be vastly improved from its 2-14 record last season. One reason is No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney.

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The ultra-athletic rookie is going to put pressure on opposing offenses, and as we approach the preseason, his performance in camp shouldn’t give fans concerns as it pertains to making the jump to the NFL. He and J.J. Watt are going to be an entertaining tandem to watch week in and week out.

Entering the offseason, the biggest question surrounding this organization was: Who is going to play quarterback? As of June, the answer to that question is Ryan Fitzpatrick. The QB started for the Buffalo Bills between 2009 and 2012, and while he isn’t a big name like Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles—two players rumored to Houston in the draft—he has a chance to be a source of continuity on this roster, especially if he can build his chemistry with Johnson.
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Behind Johnson, the Texans don’t have much else at receiver. They have a second-year player in DeAndre Hopkins who is coming off of a strong rookie season, but behind the two go-to options, this team runs thin at the position.

At running back, the job belongs to Arian Foster. He’s a player who is on the brink of superstardom every single season, but the problem is health. He’s yet to prove he can be healthy, and that theme has rang true in training camp as well (although it should be noted that he’s not expected to miss any time at the start of the regular season).

One of the questions surrounding this team is on the offensive line. This was a source of inconsistency in 2013, and improving performance at that position is going to be important when it comes to improving as a whole.

On the opposite line, expect to see a different look than last year, and not just because of new faces. New defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel isn’t going to switch away from a 3-4 scheme, but he is going to tweak the way it’s executed.

Defense is going to be the one thing to bank of for this roster next season, and if the secondary can show some improvements, the team should see at least five more wins than it did a year ago.

Texans Betting Outlook:

We’ve mentioned it before, and we’ll mention it again: The Texans are going to be better than they were last season. A 2-14 record was unexpected when last season began, and quite frankly, it would be emblematic of a much larger issue within the organization if it happened again.

Above all else, strength of schedule is going to play into the Texans’ hands. It’s not the easiest in the division, but it’s going to help this team gain a couple of key wins down the stretch of the season.

There’s virtually no chance this group goes 2-14 again this year, and aiming for somewhere between seven and nine seems realistic. Consider an 8-8 record to be a safe record to strive for, as well as second place in the division.

With training camps next up for the NFL betting offseason Cappers Picks NFL Football handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team Football Predictions and NFL Season Previews for those of us who can’t wait.

Bet on the Super Bowl XLIX winner, plus 2014/15 Conference and Divisional winners today.

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By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"