Rematch: Another landslide win for the Colts?
This week’s Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts will be the second time this season that the two teams from the AFC South have met. In the last meeting, the then home team left nothing to be desired in Indianapolis and won confidently. In the Texans vs. Colts away clash, our prediction is also a Colts win.
The Colts are in second place in the standings with six wins and just as many losses and are thus directly ahead of the Texans, who, like the Jacksonville Jaguars, have only two wins to nine losses. But the last duel between the two teams also clearly went to the Colts, a detailed analysis of which can be found in the direct comparison / H2H-balance.
In addition to the standings, the odds also speak against the home team in the Texans vs. A Texans win is offered at up to 5.00, and the bookmakers also consider a Colts win to be much more likely. In the Texans vs. Colts match, our tip is a win for Indianapolis. Handicap bets can be particularly interesting here.
Houston Texans – Statistics & current form
The team from Houston has the home advantage on its side this week, but we still don’t think that betting on the Texans against the Colts is particularly advisable. Too much currently speaks against a surprise win by the Texans.
The Texans are still struggling with an understaffing at the wide receiver position. Basically, every WR slot for the Texans is only sparsely occupied, which is actually very unusual in football. Now they also have some absences to worry about. With Danny Amendola out for up to four weeks with a knee injury suffered in last week’s game against the Jets, Brandin Cooks, Chris Conley and running back David Johnson all missed Thursday’s practice due to illness.
That could leave quarterback Tyrod Taylor short of starting yards, although he had a passable performance against the Jets. But the Texans’ run defence also leaves a lot to be desired. For example, they rank second-to-last in the league with an average of 135.6 rushing yards allowed per game.
Hope Pass Rush
However, if the Texans’ defensive linebackers can maintain their current level of performance, there is still hope for an exciting game. After all, they played a big role in the surprise win against the Tennessee Titans on the eleventh day of play. The Texans thus managed to defeat the first-placed team in their own conference. That this will also succeed against the second-placed team, however, does not seem all that likely for the Texans vs.
And this despite the fact that the Texans have a total of ten quarterback sacks in the last three games. The pass defence also worked relatively well last game day, holding Jets QB Zach Wilson to under 150 passing yards and even recovering the ball via an interception.
Key Players:
QB: Tyrod Taylor
RB: David Johnson (questionable)
WR: Nico Collins
LB: Kamu Grugier-Hill
LB: Zach Cunningham
Indianapolis Colts – stats & current form
The Colts from Indianapolis will do everything they can to take home another win. Because this could make their hopes of a place in the NFL playoffs more likely. They failed to do so last matchday, losing 31-38 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under Tom Brady’s leadership.
In the upcoming Texans vs. Colts game, however, our prediction is still another win for the second-placed team in the AFC South. Although quarterback Carson Wentz threw two interceptions, he still managed three touchdowns and more than 300 passing yards – an above-average figure.
Is Taylor still stoppable?
The number of passing yards is all the more remarkable when you consider that Wentz could actually concentrate almost exclusively on the running game. Here he has one of, if not the strongest running back in the entire NFL at his side, who leads the league in overall yards and touchdowns this season.
Jonathan Taylor could therefore also ensure a high score for his team, which also makes the odds on over/under bets interesting in the Houston Texans versus Indianapolis Colts game. In the last meeting with the Texans, he scored two touchdowns. Given his current top form, that figure could be even higher on Sunday.
Key Players:
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr.
WR: T.Y. Hilton
LB: Bobby Okereke
Houston Texans – Indianapolis Colts Head-to-head comparison / H2H record
Because both teams play in the same conference, the AFC South, they naturally meet more often than other teams. However, the last time the teams met on 17 October, the Texans suffered a bitter and, more importantly, emphatic defeat with a final score of 31-3. Historically, the Colts also seem superior: They have lost only nine of their 40 games against the Texans.
If you look at the Texans’ rush defence, which currently doesn’t look too strong, they will have considerable difficulties with running back Jonathan Taylor, one of the best in his profession.
Houston Texans – Indianapolis Colts Tip
We believe in this game that the Colts will head home with a win. Also, there can be little talk of home field advantage as the Texans have lost four of their five home games so far this season.
At the moment all signs point to another win for the team from Indianapolis in Houston. Our pick is a Colts win with a -6 handicap. Depending on how well the Texans can pressure Colts QB Wentz, they will be able to limit their opponents’ passing game.
However, the running attacks via running back Jonathan Taylor currently seem almost unstoppable, which is why a high total score is also realistic in this encounter.
