Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos, 11/2/18 Predictions & Odds

Texans vs. Broncos Total Prediction

The Houston Texans have rattled off five consecutive wins and are coming off their best offensive performance of the season. Will that carry over Sunday when they visit the Denver Broncos at 4:05 p.m. ET?

Game Snapshot

465 Houston Texans at 466 Denver Broncos

4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, November 4

Broncos Stadium at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Broncos are 1-point favorites to beat the Texans. The total, meanwhile, sits at 46 points. As of this writing, 59% of the public betting tickets are on the Texans to cover the point spread.

Houston Texans

Deshaun Watson (chest) is practicing in full for Week 9 against the Broncos. A couple weeks ago, Watson's chest injury was bad enough that the Texans wouldn't let him on a plane, instead sending him on a 12-hour bus ride to Jacksonville. Obviously he's feeling much better now. Coming off a game where he threw more touchdowns (five) than incompletions (four), Watson will be a no-brainer QB1 for Sunday's matchup in the Mile High City.

Denver Broncos

Updating an earlier report, Royce Freeman (ankle) remained sidelined at Thursday's practice. It had been reported earlier that Freeman was present for Thursday's practice, though apparently, he didn't get enough work for the Broncos to list him as a limited participant. Coming off a high-ankle sprain, Freeman was always a long shot to suit up this week. Look for impressive Phillip Lindsay to lead the backfield again Sunday when the Broncos host Houston.

NFL Betting Trends

Houston

The under is 4-1 in the Texans’ last five road games and is 10-4 in their last 14 games overall.

Denver

The under is 9-2 in the Broncos’ last 11 home games versus a team with a winning road record and 5-2 in their last seven home games.

Prediction

The trends all favor the under in this matchup (including the under being 4-1-1 in the last six meetings between these two teams) but I’m banking on Houston’s offensive explosion a week ago against Miami to carry over to this week. It took over a month for Watson to shake off the rust of tearing his ACL again and while his offensive line still has him running for his life, the second-year QB has overcome that all season. The Broncos could be in give-up mode after John Elway and the front office traded Demaryius Thomas to the Texans earlier this week. I could see the defense giving a half-hearted effort, much like it did a year ago when the team quit around this time a year ago (remember the 51-23 loss to the Eagles when the defense looked disinterested?). I see this team quitting on Vance Joseph again this year.

NFL Week 9 Prediction: Texans/Broncos over 46