Detroit at Houston Betting Pick & Lines

The Houston Texans have been terrible on the road this season but are unbeaten at home. They are on a short week after a loss in Denver on Monday as the Texans host another 4-3 team on Sunday in the Detroit Lions. It’s one of four games in Week 8 featuring winning teams. Houston is short favorite in online NFL betting.

Take a Quick Look at the Detroit at Houston Betting Pick, Lines  & TV Info

Meet this week’s opponents, the @HoustonTexans: https://t.co/XGWLlMt0HX pic.twitter.com/Qlm0wHWQGE

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 26, 2016

When: Sunday, Oct. 30, 1 PM ET Where: NRG Stadium, Houston TV: Fox Radio: Detroit / Houston Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Lines: Texans -2.5 (45)

Why Bet on Detroit?

The Lions rallied for a 20-17 home win over Washington last week. Matthew Stafford threw the game-winning 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Anquan Boldin with 16 seconds remaining. The comeback victory marked the third consecutive week in which Detroit overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to win at home, becoming the fifth team in NFL history to come from behind in the fourth quarter to win at home in three consecutive weeks in the same season (1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets, 1990 Buffalo Bills, 2009 Indianapolis Colts and 2011 Arizona Cardinals). With a game-winning drive in the 4th quarter or overtime on Sunday at Houston, Stafford would tie Peyton Manning (25) and Jake Plummer (25) for the second-most such drives in a player’s first eight seasons since 1970. Stafford, who passed for 266 yards in the Redskins victory and was playing in his 100th career game, has 27,890 passing yards, the most by any player in his first 100 games to begin a career. However, the Lions may not have top cornerback Darius Slay for this game. He left Sunday’s win with a hamstring injury and coach Jim Caldwell has not clarified his status for the Houston game. On the bright side, the Lions got back running back Theo Riddick, tight end Eric Ebron and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata at practice Wednesday. Each of those guys are the best player at his position on the 53-man roster. Riddick missed the last two games with an ankle injury. Ebron has missed three games with both knee and ankle injuries. Ngata has missed two games with a shoulder issue.

Why Bet on Houston?

As noted above, both the Texans and Lions are 4-3. Currently, there are 16 teams with a winning record. Since 1990, when the 12-team playoff format was adopted, 274 of the league’s 312 playoff teams (87.8 percent) had a winning record through seven games. So that bodes well for both. Houston lost 27-9 in Denver on Monday night in QB Brock Osweiler’s return to the city after surprising many by leaving in free agency this winter. Osweiler finished 22-for- 41 for 131 yards, without a touchdown or an interception. His 131 passing yards were the second-fewest in NFL history by a quarterback who attempted at least 40 passes. His 3.2 yards per attempt was the lowest in the league this season. Osweiler was 0-for- 7 on passes that were 15 yards or more downfield. But his struggles have not been limited to just Monday night. Osweiler became the first quarterback in league history to have three games in a single season with fewer than 200 yards on 40 attempts in each game — and Osweiler did so by Week 7. Coach Bill O’Brien says he’s not benching his QB. “I think he can play better,” said O’Brien. “I know that the receivers can run routes better. We continue to work and we continue to go down the same inconsistent road, but eventually we have to find consistency or we’re not going to be where we want to be.” Perhaps the Lions will be a welcome sight as they have one of the NFL’s worst pass rushes, are No. 23 against the pass and are allowing 4.7 yards per carry, which ranks 26th. However, Houston lost starting right tackle Derek Newton to a season-ending knee injury vs. Detroit. His career is in jeopardy. Chris Clark is slated to start at right tackle going forward.

My Betting Pick

Lions are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Texans are 4-1- 1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss. Under is 7-1 in Lions last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Take Houston in online NFL betting and under that total.