Houston Texans
vs.
Cincinnati Bengals
NFL Pick
9/14/17
By Jason Green
The Thursday night primetime Game features a couple of teams that had two of the worst performances in Week 1 of the season. The Texans committed to Tom Savage as the starting QB and they yanked him in favor of rookie Deshaun Watson. After one Game there is a QB controversy in one of the teams in the Lone Star State and things do not look good for them going forward. The Bengals are currently -5 point favorites at 5 dimes sportsbook with a total of 38.
The Bengals were shut out, at home no less, in their season opener where QB Andy Dalton had one of the worst statistical Games ever. They had made the playoffs every season with him under center before not doing so last season and if they play like they did in Week 1 they will be looking at 0-2 in two home Games to start the 2017 season.
These teams met last season at Houston where the Texans won a 12-10 barnburner
No matter who is at QB for the Texans they need some help on the offensive line. In their Week 1 29-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars they GAve up 10 sacks. A QB has not been named and in the loss to Jax Savage was 7 for 13 for 62 yards with 0 TD and 0 INT and Watson was 12 for 23 for 102 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. I think Watson will get the nod in this Game, but he needs more help from his line and they need to ride the run Game more with LAmar Miller going for 65 yards even though only averaging 3.8 yards per carry last week.
The Texans can really put the pressure on Dalton, but in Week 1 they had no sacks even with the likes of a healthy J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney.
To say Dalton stunk it up in their 20-0 opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens would be an understatement. He was 16 for 31 for 170 yards with no TD and 4 INT and he was sacked five times. What is even more disturbing is that all of his picks came when he was not under duress. A.J. Green led the team with 74 receiving yards and Dalton needs to find his star WR more in this Game. CiNCy only rushed for 77 yards in the Game and while Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill each averaged over Four yards per carry Dalton put them behind the 8-ball with his play and the Bengals need to lean on the run Game more in this Thursday night match up.
The Texans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road Games, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Games overall, and in their last 5 Thursday Games the Over record is 4-1.
The Bengals are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record, 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Games following a double-digit loss at home, and in their last 5 home Games they have an Under record of 4-0.
The Texans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Games facing the Bengals in Cincinnati.
Jason’s Pick: One of the trends that will stick is the Bengals covering the spread after losing by double digits in their last Game. Dalton cannot be as bad as he was in the season opener and he will play well in this Game. On the other side of the coin the Texans are a mess and it is one Game into the season. Cincinnati will easily win this Game and cover the spread moving to .500 on the young season.