NFL Preseason Betting Lines Pats at Texans (Saturday, August 19)

The Houston Texans welcome the New England Patriots to town on Saturday night for the second preseason matchup for both teams. The Texans loved what they saw out of rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson in their opener but still fell to the Carolina Panthers, 27-17. The Patriots apparently forgot to bring their defense to their preseason opener, as they were tattooed for 31 points by the Jacksonville Jaguars in a seven-point loss. Chad Henne found Keelan Cole for a 97-yard touchdown pass and Corey Grant dashed for a 79-yard touchdown run. Both teams have some issues to shore up as they take the field in the Lone Star State. Take a look at our preview and NFL preseason lines before locking in your betting on this game.

NFL Preseason Betting Lines Pats at Texans (Saturday, August 19)

When: Saturday, August 19, 2017, 8:00 PM ET Where: NRG Stadium, Houston TV: NBC (Local) Radio: 98.5 FM The Sports Hub Boston / KILT 610 AM Houston Live Stream: NFL Live NFL Odds: Houston -1, O/U 40.5

Why should you bet on the Patriots?

It’s important to note that almost none of the Patriots’ starters made it onto the field against the Jaguars, on either side of the ball. However, that offensive line still didn’t need to permit three sacks, and a better effort would have given Jimmy Garoppolo even more time. He did well enough, going 22 for 28 for 235 yards, and with starting talent around him against Houston, he should have luck against a Texans unit that gave up 243 yards through the air last week.

Keep an eye on tight end Jacob Hollister, who hauled in seven passes for 116 receiving yards in last week’s action. But more importantly, keep an eye on that Patriot secondary. They got torched last week by the Jaguars and need to improve their coverage performance against Houston. Deshaun Watson threw for 179 yards a week ago, but I see New England making the adjustments after viewing their own film and that of the Texans to come up with a plan for looking much better down in Houston.

Why should you put your money on the Texans?

Could Deshaun Watson really be Houston’s quarterback of the future? Most Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks come to the NFL and crash and burn, because the game moves faster, and they don’t have the arm to make the ball fit into smaller windows. Watson showed that he has the potential to succeed thus far, going 15 for 25 in his debut and carrying the ball three times for 24 yards. Expect to see him get just as much exposure against the Patriots, as Houston looks to see if what they saw last week was just a mirage or has real potential to continue. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Zach Cunningham (also a rookie) impressed his coaches, picking up seven tackles. This defensive unit is still the better of the two phases for the Texans, and if Houston is going to win, they have to lock down the Patriot offense more effectively than the Jaguars did a week ago. Finally, watch the Houston running game. Alfred Blue and D’Onta Foreman picked up 109 yards on the ground together, and Blue found the end zone. Jacksonville rumbled for 207 yards on the ground (with 79 on one carry) a week ago, so there could be some big holes again. Expect starter Lamar Miller to get more than just a couple of carries this time — I see him playing for multiple series or perhaps even the whole first quarter.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

I don’t think any NFL coach makes adjustments better than Bill Belichick does. I see him and the Patriots doing what they need to keep Houston’s offense from moving up and down the field as efficiently. I predict a final score of New England 23, Houston 17.