Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans Spread
The Houston Texans (5-3) will be looking for a third straight win when they host the Cleveland Browns (3-4) Sunday.
Odds makers seem to like their chances.
The Texans are currently listed as a 10.5-point favorite with the total set at 40.5.
Last week, Houston posted a 24-14 home victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Quarterback Matt Schaub completed 16 of 30 passes for 225 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in the win. Five of those completions went to Kevin Walter, who led the team with 70 receiving yards.
Arian Foster led the way on the ground with 112 hard-earned yards and a touchdown on 33 carries.
The Browns lost their second straight road game last week, enduring a 20-10 defeat in San Francisco.
Second-year quarterback Colt McCoy completed 22 of 34 passes for 241 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Three of those completions went to Benjamin Watson, who led the Browns with 64 receiving yards.
Chris Ogbonnaya led the way on the ground with 37 yards on 11 totes.
Cleveland has been one of the best defensive teams in the league this season. It currently ranks sixth in total defense with 299.1 yards allowed per game and eighth in scoring defense with 20.0 points allowed per contest. This unit, however, isn’t without an Achilles’ heel.
The Cleveland stop unit ranks just 26th in the league against the run with 127.3 yards allowed per game.
The Browns are 0-3 this season when allowing their opponents to rush for 139 yards or more. That doesn’t bode well for them this week since the Texans rank fourth in the NFL with 141.9 rushing yards per game.
Cleveland gave up 174 yards on the ground to the 49ers last week.
Despite missing two of the first three games, Houston’s Foster is quickly moving up the ladder in the NFL’s yardage race. He currently ranks fourth in the AFC with 532 rushing yards.
Foster led the NFL with 1,616 rushing yards in 2010.
A Cleveland offense that ranks 25th in the league with 306 yards per game may have trouble getting much of anything against a Houston defense that ranks third in the NFL with 286.8 yards allowed per game.
These teams have split the last six meetings, but Houston has won three of the last four, including a 16-6 victory at Cleveland on Nov. 23, 2008 in the most recent matchup.
The Browns and Texans last met in Houston on Dec. 31, 2006. The Texans won 14-6 that day.
Houston’s running attack could be the difference-maker Sunday. After all, the Browns are 0-6 against the spread since the beginning of last season when matched up against good rushing teams that averages 130 or more yards on the ground per game.
As far as the total is concerned, the under likely deserves some consideration. The Browns have played to the under each of the past three weeks. The Texans have played to the under in six of eight games this season.
Jimmy Boyd will keep you winning consistently on the pro gridiron all season with his expert picks. Don’t make a move in Week 9 before you check out his full slate of highly rated premium plays.
