Colts vs. Texans Total Prediction
NFL Wild Card Weekend kicks off this weekend with an AFC South matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans at 4:35 p.m. ET on Saturday. Will their be enough offense in this matchup for bettors to cash in on the over?
Game Snapshot
101 Indianapolis Colts at 102 Houston Texans
4:35 p.m. ET, Saturday, January 5, 2019
NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Texans are 1-point favorites to beat the Colts. The total, meanwhile, sits at 48.5 points. As of this writing, 51% of the public betting tickets are on the Texans to cover the point spread.
Indianapolis Colts
Speaking Thursday, Colts coach Frank Reich said T.Y. Hilton (ankle) would have missed a game or two down the stretch had they not all been must win. That’s an amazing statement considering how productive Hilton was in the process. Hilton has yet to practice this week but will be ready to rock in Houston.
Houston Texans
Texans coach Bill O’Brien said Keke Coutee (hamstring) is a game-time decision for the Wild Card round. Coutee has practiced in full all week, so he would seem to be a good bet to play. That said, Coutee has seemed close to playing for most of the last month without ever actually suiting up. If he plays, Coutee could see a surprisingly large target share against a Colts team he worked for 109 yards on 11 catches back in Week 4.
NFL Betting Trends
Indianapolis
The Colts are 3-1-1 against the spread in their last five games versus AFC South rivals but are just 1-4 against the number in their last five playoff road games.
Houston
The Texans are 4-1 against the spread in their last five home games and are 4-1 ATS in their last five divisional matchups.
Prediction
I like the over. Both of these teams like to work with a fast pace on offense (Colts more so than the Texans but Houston moves at a pretty quick clip relative to most teams in the NFL) and Andrew Luck is on fire. T.Y. Hilton has also torched the Texans throughout his career, including this season when he combined for nine receptions and 199 yards in two games versus Houston. Speaking of torching opposing defensive backs, DeAndre Hopkins has not been slowed by anyone, even top corners like Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard. The over is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings between these two teams at NRG Stadium and I expect the Colts and Texans to set off fireworks in the NFL’s playoff opener this weekend.
NFL Wild Card Prediction: Colts/Texans over 48.5
