NFL Odds – Unbeaten Texans vs Winless Cowboys

Those who cast their lot against the NFL betting lines are licking their lips as they anticipate a meeting between the unbeaten Houston Texans and the winless Dallas Cowboys in what is legitimately a "Lone Star Showdown" that is slated to begin at 1 PM ET on Sunday at Reliant Stadium (natural turf) in Houston.

In the NFL odds for this game, the Texans are a three-point home favorite, and the total for the game is posted at 47 points.

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Rumors swirl about the immediate future of Dallas coach Wade Phillips, which could be in danger if his team continues to lose.

Dallas Cowboys (0-2 SU & ATS) at Houston Texans (2-0 SU, 1-0-1 ATS)

Live at Reliant Stadium

Houston, TX

Sunday, September 26 — 1 PM ET

TV: Fox

NFL Odds:

Houston -3

Dallas +3

Total 47

Not too many weeks ago, these teams met in a pre-season game at Reliant, and the Texans won a 23-7 decision. Maybe some people are looking for a repeat? Should that be part of evaluation of the NFL odds?

ell, I don’t know about that, but if you were to rank the teams in the NFL based on what they have actually done so far, the Houston Texans would have to be at or near the top. Houston first won convincingly against the defending AFC champion Colts, then came back from 17 points down against the Redskins to tie it up, then win it in overtime.

This is all impressive, even more so because it has been done with an interesting balance.

The Texans have gotten over 600 yards in passing from Matt Schaub, with WR’s Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter gaining 191 and 173 yards, respectively, through the air. Arian Foster has 300 rushing yards on the nose. The defense has limited opponents to 2.3 yards a carry and just 27% on first down. In the NFL odds as it concerns division winners, Gary Kubiak’s team is now +200 to win the AFC South.

Here are some of the football trends as they impact the NFL odds on this game:

• Dallas has played ten of its last 13 games UNDER the total
• Dallas has played six of its last seven road games UNDER the total
• Dallas has lost four of its last six road games SU
• Dallas has covered five of its last 16 road games

• Houston has won its last six games SU
• Houston has covered three of its last nine games
• Houston has played four of its last six home games OVER the total
• Houston has won five of its last seven home games SU

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Obviously there are a lot of things to be said about the Cowboys’ situation, particularly on the offensive side. Dallas has simply not executed at the right times; the running game has produced just 3.3 yards a carry, and if you listen to a lot of players about that, they will tell you that getting that ground game going is a major factor.

It’s certainly a factor in their underdog status in the NFL odds. There have also been eighteen penalties, and the most celebrated of those took place in Week 1, when Alex Barron’s holding call nullified a touchdown (of course, his hold probably made the TD possible in the first place).

Yet when you look at Dallas, they have room for the results to be better, and to possibly come out on the winning end against the NFL odds this week. Tony Romo has 65% completions and has been sacked only once, and his offensive line is getting healthier.

Miles Austin has 288 yards receiving. The Cowboys have 47 first downs in the first couple of games. Dallas has outgained the opposition by a wide margin. The Dallas defense has held foes to three yards a carry, and 17% on third down.

Of course, they need to do a better job in passing situations, as they’ve permitted 7.3 yards an attempt and don’t have an interception. Houston doesn’t have an interception either, and the Texans have yielded NINE yards an attempt.

Never mind all the statistics, it’s only been two games; what might be most important is that the Cowboy players know heads will roll if they lose this game, because that’s the kind of guy Jerry Jones is. In a desperate state (so desperate that Jason Witten is playing after leaving with a concussion last week), we’ll take the points with Dallas in the NFL odds for this week.

JAY’S PLAY: DALLAS +3 ***
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

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