What Vegas thinks of the Texans 2016 chances
By Josh McSwain
After winning nine games again last season, here is what Vegas thinks of Houston’s chances next season.
http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/futures/
Not surprisingly, the Texans are somewhere in the middle following a 9-7 season. I don’t think the 40/1 odds are that unreasonable (I say that and all things forward as someone who is largely unfamiliar with any more than the basics of betting). What sticks out is that the Colts are far ahead of the Texans at 25/1 odds to win Super Bowl LI. After winning the AFC South, one would think the odds might be a little closer. But the return of Andrew Luck could change a lot of things for the Colts next season, particularly if he looks like the 2014 version of himself and not the one we saw in 2015.
More from Toro Times
- Houston Texans Draft: Michael Mayer should be a no doubter at pick 12
- Houston Texans already telling fans the Davis Mills era is over
- Houston Texans have hand forced, waste no time in firing Lovie Smith
- Houston Texans: Pros and Cons of keeping Head Coach Lovie Smith
- There is just one way the Texans can lose the No. 1 pick
It should come as no surprise that the Patriots have the best odds at 9/1. They have been to the last five AFC championship games and have won two of them, including one Super Bowl win. Next come the NFC champion Panthers, Super Bowl 48 champion Seahawks and the Steelers at 10/1 odds. I cannot argue with any of those, because they all have very good quarterbacks and have tough defenses up front (Steelers secondary could use some work though). The Packers round out the top five at 12/1, which considering the injuries they endured this past season and were still able to get so close to the NFC championship game (they should have gone for two after the Hail Mary at the end of regulation, I said that before they kicked the extra point). The Cardinals and Bengals are at 15/1 and 18/1, respectively, followed by the Dallas Cowboys (Cowboys?!?) and Super Bowl champion Broncos at 20/1. A team that went 4-12 has the same odds going into next year as the reigning champions? I can’t go for that.
Moreover, the Texans are labeled the tenth most likely to win the AFC at 25/1. Only teams below them were the Chargers, Jaguars, Titans, Browns, Raiders and Dolphins, not in that order.