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After last week’s emotional rollercoaster of a game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New England Patriots will leave the friendly confines of Foxborough and head to Houston for a Week 5 matchup with the Houston Texans. Two rookie quarterbacks will be under center, as Mac Jones will lead the Patriots, and Davis Webb mans the quarterback position for the Texans. With all that said, it’s time we take a look at both the New England and Houston so you can get ready to bet against their NFL odds.

NFL Betting Preview for Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Houston Texans

Houston Texans

After their Week 1 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Texans have lost three straight. They seemed to hit rock bottom last weekend, as they were blown out by the Buffalo Bills 40-0. In their defense, since playing the Jaguars, the Texans have had a very tough schedule. They’ve played the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and the Bills.

Since quarterback Tyrod Taylor went down, the Houston offense has struggled. With the rookie Mills at the helm, the passing game hasn’t gotten much done. Although the Texans have a nice stable of running backs in Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay, and David Johnson, the rushing game has also been suspect.

Defensively, the Texans have a lot of work to do. Former Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator Lovie Smith has returned to the NFL from the college ranks to lead the Texans defense. His defense is currently giving up an average of 29 points per game.

New England Patriots

Bill Belichick isn’t used to losing, but his Patriots enter Week 5 with a 1-3 record. Their lone victory of the season came in Week 2 against the New York Jets. With losses to the Dolphins, Saints, and Buccaneers, a date with the Texans is just what the Patriots need.

After the cut of Cam Newton at the end of training camp, New England anointed rookie first-round pick, Mac Jones, as the starting quarterback. Jones has had a typical season for a rookie quarterback. Jones played well in the loss to Tom Brady and the Bucs, as he threw for 275 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Jones doesn’t have any superstar receivers to throw to, as Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, and Hunter Henry are his leading targets.

Defensively, the Patriots aren’t what they’ve been in years past. They just recently traded former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Stefon Gilmore, for a late-round draft pick. Although they’re not what they once were, the Pats defense is still giving up an average of just 17 points per game. Any time Bill Belichick’s team takes the field, you know that you’re going to face a very tough defense.

Prediction

While the Patriots enter this one as a 7.5-point favorite, the numbers are leaning in Houston’s favor. New England is 1-4 against the spread in its last five road games. Houston is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games as an underdog.

While we normally don’t like to go against the numbers, we’re going to make an exception in this case. The Patriots’ defense will be too much for the lowly Houston offense. We like the Patriots to win this one 24-14, covering the spread in the process.

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