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Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans NFL Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on December 9, 2008

The Tennessee Titans, owners of the NFL’s best record at 12-1, take on the surging Houston Texans in Week 15 action. The Texans have rattled off three straight wins to move within 1-game of .500 on the season. If they are able to win out, they can best last year’s franchise-record eight win season, but the NFL odds makers feel the winning streak will end this week. Tennessee is a 3-point favorite with the total set at 44.

Since enduring their first loss of the season, the Titans have been nothing short of dominant with back-to-back blowout wins over the Lions and the Browns. One of the strongest running attacks in the league has led the charge. Tennessee rushed for 235 yards on the Browns with running back LenDale White and Chris Johnson falling just one yard short of history. The Titans briefly had two 100-yard rushers for the third time this season until White was thrown for a 1-yard loss on his final carry. Johnson joined Earl Campbell and Eddie George as the only 1,000 yard rookies in team history. The running game came up big in Tennessee 31-12 home win over the Texans back on September 21st. The Titans gained 154 yards in a dominant performance. Kerry Collins and the passing attack is going to have to be better if the Titans are going to make a Super Bowl run as somewhere along the line they will meet a team up the challenge of stopping the run. Collins threw a pair of touchdown passes last week but was also picked off twice.

Defense has been the main objective of this team all season long. Tennessee took full advantage of going against third-string Browns QB Ken Dorsey, holding him to 150 yards and intercepting him once. Matt Schaub, who is coming off a huge 414 yard performance will provide a much tougher test. The Texans have also recently received great running contributions from rookie Steve Slaton, but he will be up against one of the best run-stuffing teams in the NFL. The Browns had just 35 yards rushing and the Titans made it a point to bottle up Jamal Lewis, holding him to seven yards on seven carries. Taking Tennessee in AFC South play has been very profitable for NFL betting enthusiasts this season as the Titans are a perfect 4-0 straight up and against the spread in division play. If you think Tennessee will continue its dominance of the AFC South, bet the Titans at -3 at BetUS.

While wins over Cleveland and Jacksonville aren’t much to write home about this season, the Texans beat the Packers 24-21 at icy Lambeau to cover the spread for the fourth straight week. QB Matt Schaub and the Texans offense proved that they can move the ball through the air even in the coldest of temperatures. Schaub threw for a career-best 414 yards and rookie running back Steve Slaton gained 120 more on the ground as the Texans racked up 549 total yards against the Pack. It was Houston’s second straight win on the road after starting the season 0-5 away from home. Now the Texans will get to take on the AFC South leaders on their home turf where they are a respectable 4-2 this season. While the Texans are just 1-4 straight up in division games this year, they are 4-1 against the number in those contests. History is not on Houston’s side in this matchup however, as the Titans are a perfect 5-0 straight up and against the spread versus the Texans the last three seasons. But the Texans are in a great spot to pull off the upset, coming off their strongest game of the season on both sides of the football. Houston was able to get to Aaron Rodgers last week at critical times and Mario Williams has been playing an outstanding defensive end position. If Houston can make the Titans pass to win with Collins, they will be right in this football game. If you think we have an upset in the works, bet the Texans at +3 at BetUS.

Jimmy Boyd’s NFL picks have been on the money each of the past two weeks and he’s ready to take the books to school again.

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