Last week’s Thursday night NFL game was horrible to watch between two bad teams. This week, it’s a much better offering as 4-3 Miami Dolphins, second in the AFC East, visits 4-3 Houston Texans, which has taken sole possession of first in the AFC South and is a solidly favored on the NFL Odds to win a fifth straight game.
How to Bet Dolphins vs Texans NFL Week 8 Odds & Game Info
- When: Thursday, 8:20 PM ET
- Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
- TV: Fox/NFL Network
- Radio: SiriusXM/NFL
- NFL Week 8 Odds: Houston Texans -7 (Total 45)
Weather Forecast
- Mostly Cloudy: 17°C/63°F
- Humidity: 73%
- Precipitation: 3%
- Cloud Cover: 74%
- Wind: 8 mph N
- Stadium Type: Retractable
Last Meeting
Miami is just 1-7 all-time in this series but won the last meeting in 2015 by a score of 44-26 in South Florida. Ryan Tannehill completed his first 18 attempts and threw for four scores in first 16 minutes; he would finish with just one incompletion and a rare perfect QB rating.Miami became the first team in at least 75 years to score four offensive touchdowns of at least 50 yards in a half. Tannehill became the first quarterback to throw three touchdown passes of 50-plus yards in a first half since Randall Cunningham in 1998. Lamar Miller rushed for 175 yards on 14 carries, all in the first half – he’s now with Houston. The Texans’ QB that day was Brian Hoyer. He’s in New England now.
Why Bet on Miami?
The Fins didn’t look good Sunday in a 32-21 home loss to Detroit. Miami was destroyed for 248 yards rushing, the most by Detroit in 21 years. ”A lot has to go wrong for that to happen. There’s no way you could have told me that would be something that would happen,” Miami defensive end Cam Wake said.With Ryan Tannehill out again with a shoulder injury, Brock Osweiler was solid. Osweiler completed 22-of-31 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Frankly, Osweiler has looked better than Tannehill. Osweiler will start again here. Kenyan Drake rushed six times for 72 yards and a touchdown, adding four receptions for 15 additional yards.
Some bad news that big-play WR Albert Wilson injured his hip and could miss the rest of the season. In addition, fellow starting WR Kenny Stills (groin) has been ruled out for Week 8. “And we’ll see after that,” coach Adam Gase said on Monday. The Dolphins’ three-receiver set on Thursday Night Football will have Jakeem Grant and DeVante Parker on the outside with Danny Amendola in the slot.
Parker’s agent recently blasted Gase and the organization, but they need his client now. Parker has played fewer than 40 snaps on the year. Together, Stills and Wilson have accounted for 40 percent of the team’s receiving yards (672) and 53 percent of the team’s receiving touchdowns (eight). Wilson has been the Dolphins’ most explosive player this season, leading the team in receiving yards (359) and leading the NFL in yards after catch (335) going into Week 7.
Parker’s agent Jimmy Gould released a statement calling Gase “incompetent” and saying he wasn’t telling the truth in regard to Parker’s health. Gase said Parker still isn’t “completely healthy” as he deals with a quad injury that cost him two games earlier this year. Last season, Parker had 57 catches for 670 yards.
Why Bet on Houston?
The Texans won 20-7 at Jacksonville on Sunday to take over first in their division. The Texans are the sixth team since 1970 to win four consecutive games immediately following a 0-3 start to a season, joining the 1970 New York Giants, 1986 Los Angeles Raiders, 1998 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Pittsburgh Steelers, and 2011 Kansas City Chiefs.Deshaun Watson completed 12-of-24 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown and rushed seven times for 13 yards. It was his first game this season without throwing an interception. Watson, who has been sacked 26 times and hit 71 times this season, took just one sack and five hits on Sunday against the Jaguars’ talented defense.
“He’s playing hurt,” coach Bill O’Brien conceded after the game. Watson is believed to be dealing with lung and ribs injuries, which are why he’s been listed with a “chest” ailment on weekly injury reports. The Texans committed to their rushing attack in Sunday’s victory. Watson reportedly had to take a bus from Houston to Jacksonville because his injuries wouldn’t allow him to fly.
Lamar Miller rushed 22 times for 100 yards and a touchdown in the win. It was easily Miller’s best game of the year. DeAndre Hopkins caught 3-of-8 targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. Rookie WR Keke Coutee (hamstring) doesn’t expect to play in Week 8 against Miami. Coutee had a setback with his hamstring Sunday. It shouldn’t keep him out the three games it cost him earlier this year, but he’s not going to be ready with the Texans playing on a short week.
During the four-game winning streak, the Texans defense has looked much better, especially in the past three weeks, when Houston has allowed just 36 total points. It allowed 74 points during its 0-3 start. In the past two weeks, the Texans have forced three lost fumbles and have intercepted three passes, including one for a pick-six.
Dolphins vs Texans NFL Week 8 Betting Trends
- Dolphins are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 road games
- Dolphins are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record
- Texans are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 8
- Under is 8-1-1 in Dolphins last 10 Thursday games
- Under is 5-0 in Texans last 5 games following a straight up win
- Miami is 6-10-2 ATS in its last 18 games
- Miami is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 12 of Miami’s last 18 games
- Houston is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 games
- Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston’s last 9 games
