Texans vs Buccaneers Odds & Pick (MNF)

The Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are defending division champions, but they don’t seem to get a lot of credit because they are in the NFL’s two weakest divisions. 

Might they be able to go to the next level in the playoffs, or make the playoffs at all?

Games like the one they’ll encounter on Monday night will tell part of that tale. The AFC South’s Texans and NFC South’s Buccaneers will meet up at 7 PM ET at NRG Stadium in Houston, the first half of a doubleheader. 

Monday Night Football Odds at BetOnline 

As you can see, the Texans are rated the favorite here, but not by much. 

Houston Texans -2.5 (-115)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +2.5 (-105)

Over 42.5 Points -110
Under 42.5 Points -110

Bet Now at BetOnline

Previewing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When Baker Mayfield signed with the Bucs, he got involved with Dave Canales as his offensive coordinator and blossomed. When Canales moved on to take the top job at Carolina, that job became Liam Coen’s. Now Coen has been hired as head coach in Jacksonville, so Josh Grizzard is calling the plays as the offensive coordinator. By now we should assume that Mayfield knows the drill. 

There was not a whole lot to go on in the first week. Mayfield threw for 167 yards against Atlanta. Emeka Egbuka, a first-round draft choice from Ohio Statre, caught two touchdown passes, including the game-winner. We’re sure we will hear more from Mike Evans, the future Hall of Famer. Chris Godwin (ankle injury) has returned to practice, although he’s not going to play this week. Bucky Irving, who gave Tampa Bay a real rushing attack last season, hasn’t let loose yet. Tackle Tristan Wirfs is also back at practice, but won’t play this week. This will be a genuine offensive attack, but it won’t be as good now as it will be later.

The Bucs did a very good job dealing with Atlanta’s rushing attack, holding Bijon Robinson and Tyler Allgeier to 2.2 ypc, and that’s an encouraging sign for a unit that was somewhat maligned coming into the season. 

Previewing the Houston Texans

Christian Kirk, who is an effective component in the Houston receiving corps, has a hamstring problem and has not been practicing. There is Jaylen Higgins and Nico Collins and we’re not sure anybody is scared of those guys. So CJ Stroud, who came into the NFL like a locomotive, then cooled down, doesn’t have a lot to work with here. 

This has been a suspect group on the offensive line. Center Jake Andrews went down with an injury. And rookie Aireontae Ersery, a second-rounder, might become a good one, but he’ll have growing pains. Joe Mixon is out of action due to a foot injury, and Dameon Pierce should get playing time, but we’ve been really interested in what we might see out of Nick Chubb. He’s a former All-Pro running back, as you likely know, who got injured in Cleveland and has been trying to claw his way back. last week against the L.A. Rams he had 60 yards on thirteen carries. This is a player who had 1525 yards on the ground as recently as 2022, but those days have passed him by. 

Which way are we going in the Bucs-Texans game?

This is a matchup of two defensive-minded head coaches. The offense is probably more readily available with the Bucs, but you have to respect some of the All-Pro level talent Houston has on the defensive side of the ball, like Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr., Derek Stingley Jr. and others. 

We see it being a struggle putting together drives for the Texans, unless (a) Pierce really takes things over in the backfield, or (b) Chubb recaptures his All-Pro form. 

Circumstances point us toward the total.

THE PLAY: UNDER 42.5 POINTS 

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