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NFL Betting Preview: Desperate Broncos, Texans Duel on Thursday Night
Sage Rosenfels looks to get the Texans to .500. (AI Wire photo)
At first glance Thursday’s primetime feature looks like an unappealing matchup of two mediocre teams. But there are many compelling storylines when the Broncos meet the Texans.
By now, you’ve heard of the family ties between Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and his son, Texans assistant Kyle Shanahan. And Gary Kubiak, the Houston coach, was a Denver assistant for 11 years under Shanahan.
Those relationships make for nice TV. What NFL bettors are concerned about, though, is which side has the best chance of winning. Answering that question isn’t easy.
Both teams are 6-7, both cling to slim playoff hopes and both have received surprising contributions from unheralded players. On top of that, they also have betting trends leaning in their favor entering this game.
The Broncos, who crushed Kansas City 41-7 last week, are 6-1 against the point spread in the game following a victory of two touchdowns or more. The Texans, meanwhile, are 5-0 ATS in their last five games as a home underdog. Denver enters as a one-point favorite.
Houston will start backup Sage Rosenfels in place of the injured Matt Schaub (dislocated shoulder). Rosenfels threw three touchdowns during last week’s upset of the Buccaneers.
The Texans have never had a winning record and if they’re victorious they’ll move to 7-7.
The over/under is 47.5. And the over may be the surest NFL bet in this one. The higher number is 7-0 in the Broncos’ last seven games in December and 4-0 in the Texans’ last four as a home dog.
In-game wagering is available through BodogLIVE. For NFL odds for all games in Week 15, huddle up with the Bodog Sportsbook.