NFL Odds – Who is Ready For Prime Time? Kansas City Versus Houston in Week 6

The upstart Kansas City Chiefs travel to Houston on Sunday and the NFL betting oddsmakers are still not giving the Chiefs any love.

The Houston Texans, despite a bad loss in Week 6 are still 4 ½ point favorites against a solid team in the Kansas City Chiefs. 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-1) vs. HOUSTON TEXANS (3-2)

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Sunday, October 17, 1:00 PM ET

Reliant Stadium

Houston, Texas

Broadcast: CBS

NFL Odds:

Kansas City: + 4 ½ (-110)

Houston: -4 ½ (-110)

Moneyline: Kansas City +165: Houston -200

Total: 44 ½ points

The Kansas City Chiefs have defied the NFL odds all season and last week’s performance against Indianapolis was no different. Despite the loss, the Chief were able to hold the Colts under 20 points and were able to keep Peyton Manning out of the end zone. They are playing reasonably well on offense and are playing very well on defense.

Kansas City is a running team, make no mistake about it. The two headed rushing monster of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones are averaging approximately 70 yards per game apiece so far. The running game ranks third in the NFL and should be able to exploit a Houston defense that has been solid but unspectacular against the run so far this season.

The Kansas City passing game ranks 27th in the NFL. Matt Cassell has been largely ineffective so far this season and when he finally makes an accurate throw, NFL odds are that Dwayne Bowe will be there to come up with one of his all-too-familiar drops. Is Chris Chambers still in the NFL?

Romeo Crenell has certainly made a difference with the Chiefs defense. A terrible unit last year now ranks sixth against the run and 25th against the pass. The numbers are unflattering but their play has been excellent.

Houston, we have a problem! I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry for the lame cliché. The Texans got schooled last week and now look like an average NFL team. The passing game has largely underachieved all season but the running game that we’ve come to love all but evaporated in Week 5. A Week 6 win is crucial, both from a confidence standpoint and for a standings standpoint.

Surprisingly, the Texans still have the 14th ranked offense overall. They are the sixth best running team and the 14th best passing team. In Week 5, they only managed 11 first downs and they surrendered six sacks. Matt Schaub has to step up and Arian Foster has to produce more than the 25 yards that he gained last week!

The Texans can improve all they want on offense but NFL odds are that if the defense doesn’t step up and stop somebody, they team will be on the losing end of their share of games. Somehow, this unit ranks fifth against the run and dead last against the pass. Houston gives up an average of 27.2 points per game and 409 yards per game – Ouch!

NFL Odds Outlook:

Kansas City is 7-17 S/U in their last 24 games overall and is 5-17 S/U in their last 22 games on the road. However, they are 4-1 S/U in their last five games overall.

Houston is 7-2 S/U in their last nine games overall and 15-8 S/U in their last 23 games at home. However, they are just 2-3-1 ATS in their last six games overall and 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games at home.

The Kansas City Chiefs certainly look like the better team heading into Week 6 but something tells me that this is the week that we finally see the Real Houston Texans. Kansas City held the Colts down last week but the Indy running game is nowhere near that of the Houston Texans.

The one thing that Houston does well is stopping the run and unfortunately, that’s about all that Kansas City has. I like the all around offensive team to prevail in this one.

NFL Odds Pick: Houston Texans -4 ½