Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos: Point Spread and Over/Under

Texans vs. Broncos – An interesting match-up on paper that will be less interesting on the field. The Texans opened as 7 point underdogs and the number is 41.

The Broncos and Texans history is so intertwined that the pre-game hype is always intriguing. A fired coaching staff becoming Super Bowl Champions. The designated quarterback of the future defecting for big bucks. A week’s worth of pregame trash talk directed at that quarterback. No doubt a cascade of boos throughout the game directed at the “traitor”. It’s all fun and games.

However, the analysis is complicated. Both teams are 4-2. The Broncos lost their last two games scoring fewer than 20 points in each. The Texans should have lost their last two games except for an unlikely comeback extending into overtime.

However, it’s a Monday night prime time game, and that’s where the muddy water begins to clear. The Texans’ record in prime time games is fairly dismal, especially prime time road games. The Texans’ record against projected Super Bowl contenders is even worse.

For instance, this year’s Patriots and Vikings games, both on the road, were blow-outs. We all remember the letter jacket fiasco in Foxboro. The Texans’ landscape is littered with “breakthrough games” in which the Texans broke.