Head Coach Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints are favored by a touchdown when they take on Coach Bill O’Brien and the Houston Texans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Monday Night showdown kicks off at 7:10 p.m. ET and interested parties can watch the action on ESPN.
Thursday NightBetting Preview: New Orleans Saints vs. Houston Texans
In this Monday game, New Orleans is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 7 points. The Texans are also receiving +230 moneyline odds while the Saints are -280. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 53 points, and if one team can catch a lucky break early, it will probably generate a nice betting scenario in-game.
Sharp bettors are siding with the under. The game’s total was set originally at 54.
Including the playoffs, the Saints were 14-4 straight up (SU) last season while the Texans went 11-6 in 2018. When playing against conference competition, the Texans finished 9-3 SU and the Saints were 9-3 SU against National Football Conference squads. The Texans were 2-2 SU against teams out of conference while the Saints were 4-0 SU against such squads.
The Texans logged 238.2 passing yards per game and 139.4 rushing yards per game against their 12 in-conference opponents last year. The team managed to score 25.7 points per game against those opponents while giving up 18.3 per contest. When facing non-conference competition, they averaged 23.5 points-for and 24.0 points-against, along with 326.8 pass yards per game and 87.0 rush yards per game.
In matchups against non-conference foes in 2018, the Saints passed for 261.5 yards per game and rushed for 124.3 per game on their way to 31.8 points per outing. When playing only NFC opponents, the offense recorded 31.4 points per game by averaging 260.7 passing yards and 127.3 rushing yards. The Saints defense allowed 20.8 PPG to non-conference foes and 22.5 to NFC teams
It seems like the Saints should hold an edge when it comes to applying pressure, since their offensive line allowed just 20 sacks last season while their D-line registered 49 sacks. The Texans offensive line allowed 62 sacks last year and their defense generated only 43 sacks.
Houston Texans vs. New Orleans Saints Free NFL Pick
SU Winner: Saints, ATS Winner: Saints, O/U: Under
Betting Notes
- The Houston offensive line allowed 62 sacks last season. Their defense created 43 sacks.
- Saints quarterbacks were sacked 20 times last year. Their defense got to opposing QBs 49 times
- Houston created 12 rushing touchdowns last season.
- New Orleans put up 26 rushing touchdowns last season.
- The Texans put up 4.3 yards per carry last season while allowing a YPC of 3.4 to opponents.
- The Saints rushed for 4.3 yards per carry last season and gave up a YPC of 3.6 to opponents.
- Houston converted 26 passing touchdowns last season.
- New Orleans threw for 33 passing touchdowns last season.
