Texans-Saints Betting Odds Steady at New Orleans -4
The Texans-Saints betting odds have moved only a half point this week in favor of New Orleans.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: New Orleans -4 & 53
Opening Line & Total: Saints -4.5 & 51
Houston’s rebuilt secondary gets its first major test when the Texans visit Drew Brees and the Saints on Sunday afternoon. The last time these teams squared off was 2007 when Houston won 23-10.
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After having the worst pass defense in all of football a year ago, the Texans added CB Johnathan Joseph and FS Danieal Manning and switched to a 3-4 base alignment under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Houston currently leads the NFL in both total defense (271 YPG) and scoring defense (10.0 PPG), but it wasn’t really tested in matchups with two of the worst starting QBs in football -- Indianapolis’ Kerry Collins and Miami’s Chad Henne. Even with WR Marques Colston out and WR Lance Moore playing at less than full speed, Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 270 yards and 3 TD against a very good Chicago defense this past Sunday. Houston was 2-6 ATS as an underdog last year, and the Saints are 4-1 ATS in their past five home games.
Arian Foster, last year’s leading rusher in the NFL, had to take himself out of Sunday’s win over Miami because his hamstring was bothering him. Luckily for Foster and the Texans, the ground game hasn’t suffered, as Ben Tate has rushed for 219 of the team’s 305 yards this year. Tate is averaging 4.7 YPC during his back-to-back 100-yard efforts. With Foster still questionable to play and RB Derrick Ward likely out because of an ankle injury, Tate will continue to be a huge part of this offense. QB Matt Schaub hasn’t been flawless (3 TD, 2 INT), but he has completed 72% of his passes, including 14 completions and two scores to Andre Johnson. Other than Foster and Ward, the Texans are dealing with injuries to LB DeMeco Ryans (elbow), CB Johnathan Joseph (ankle) and WR Kevin Walter (collarbone), who are all questionable for Sunday’s game.
Brees has thrown for three scores in both of his games, racking up 689 passing yards. Most of this has been done without Colston, who is expected to miss a month with a broken collarbone. Lance Moore (groin) will likely suit up again Sunday, but he only had one catch for six yards in the win over Chicago. RB Darren Sproles leads the team in targets (19) and receptions (15), but WR Devery Henderson has been the best option downfield with 203 yards on nine catches (22.6 avg) and 2 TD. Rookie RB Mark Ingram has not been the consistent rusher the team had hoped he’d be, with just 91 yards on 27 carries (3.4 YPC), with his longest run being 12 yards. One key defensive player the Saints would love to get back is CB Tracy Porter, who did not play last week because of a calf injury.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
