The opening week of the new NFL season is almost in the books, with the only games left to play being a Monday night double-header. It was, in many ways, a bit of a surprise opening weekend, with perhaps the biggest stunner being the Cleveland Browns, who a lot of people like to make a deep run this year, getting demolished at home by the Tennessee Titans. Anyone who was concerned about the Patriots and their ability to win it all again this season can also probably relax, as the Super Bowl champions put in a dominating performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and all without Antonio Brown in the line-up.
Brown’s former team, the Oakland Raiders, will start their season in the late game on Monday night, but prior top that, we have the Houston Texans hitting the road in Week 1 to face the New Orleans Saints. This looks to be a pretty entertaining match-up for our first Monday game, with the promise of tons of offense sure to be a major draw. The Saints are favored by 6 ½ at home, with the point total set at 52.
Texans vs Saints 2019 NFL Week 1 Odds, Game Info & Pick
- When: Monday, September 9 at 7:10 PM EST
- Where: Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: SiriusXM/NFL
- Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
- NFL Week 1 Odds: New Orleans Saints -6.5 (Total 52)
Broncos vs Raiders 2019 NFL Week 1 Lines, Game Info & Pick
Weather Forecast
- Partly Cloudy: 32°C/89°F
- Humidity: 61%
- Precipitation: 1%
- Cloud Cover: 42%
- Wind: 8 mph SE
- Stadium Type: Indoor
Why bet on the Houston Texans?
The regular season in 2018 was a good one for the Texans, who finished the year at 11-5 and an AFC South title. This game is all about championships, though, so losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Indianapolis Colts is sure to have left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Texans players and coaching staff. With Andrew Luck’s retirement, Houston are now considered the favorites to win the South again, although the Titans laid down a big marker in their Week 1 win.
The Texans went 5-3 on the road last season, but just 2-2 overall in non-conference games. This is a team that starts slow, going 1-4 SU in their last 5 September games. They are also 0-4-1 ATS in games played against teams from the NFC. That said, they have won 5 of their last 6 road games.
Team Stats (Last 10 Games)
- Score: 22.50
- Rush Yards: 113.50
- Pass Attempts: 33.75
- Completion Percentage: 60.00
- Passing Yards: 257.25
- Total Yards: 370.75
- Turnovers: 1.50
Why bet on the New Orleans Saints?
If any team has a reason to come into this season with a bit of a chip on their shoulder, it would have to be the New Orleans Saints. They saw a great season come to a close on a blatant missed pass interference call that essentially handed the game to the LA Rams, who went on to appear in the Super Bowl.
That aside, there are some legitimate concerns that QB Drew Brees may be running out of steam, as he was not at his best in the final few weeks of the season. This is a team with a great running game, though, so they can take some of the pressure off their QB. The Saints are 15-3 SU in their last 18 homes games and have gone 7-0 versus AFC opposition. They are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games versus AFC South opponents.
Team Stats (Last 10 Games)
- Score: 21.75
- Rush Yards: 76.75
- Pass Attempts: 41.00
- Completion Percentage: 65.24
- Passing Yards: 258.50
- Total Yards: 335.25
- Turnovers: 1.50
Texans vs Saints 2019 NFL Week 1 Betting Trends
- Texans are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road
- Texans are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the NFC conference
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston’s last 6 games against an opponent in the NFC South division
- Saints are 15-3 SU in their last 18 games at home
- Saints are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games played in week 1
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans’ last 5 games played on a Monday
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Texans vs Saints
Both of these teams are considered legitimate playoff contenders, so both will be looking to get off to a winning start. The Saints record at home and against AFC opposition makes them look like a very good bet on Monday night.
Score: Houston Texans 20 – New Orleans Saints 28
