Houston host New England today needing a win to keep alive their thin chances of making the play-offs through a Wild Card spot. They are one of five teams who currently stand at 8-7 but have the worst divisional record of the whole group and will need a lot of help. One thing that could work in their favour is the fact that the Patriots have very little to play for and may even field a weakened team for parts of the game.
The Texans go into the game as favourites on the money line at -286 (bet $286 to win $100 profit), leaving the Patriots as underdogs at +275 (bet $100 to win $275 profit). Betting on the money line so far has been overwhelmingly in favour of the visitors, with 98% of money backing New England.
The point spread for the game has been set at seven points, making the Texans favourites at -7 and giving the Patriots a handicap of +7 points. Betting against the spread has also been mainly behind New England, with 68% of money so far backing them to beat the spot today. Last time the sides met was in 2006 and the Patriots came out on top, thrashing Houston 40-7.
Both teams have performed slightly better on the field than they have against the spread this season, with the Texans covering at 7-7-1 while winning at 8-7 and New England, despite winning at 10-5, have only managed to cover the spread at 8-7.
The Over/Under line for the game has been set at 46.5 points and betting so far has seen 63% of money backing the Over. However, this seems difficult to explain, as the teams combined have recorded nineteen Unders and eleven Overs in their combined thirty decisions this season.
The Patriots are the fourth favourites for the Super Bowl this year after their impressive finish to the season, priced at 10/1. Houston will find it very difficult to get into the play-offs and as a result are as long as 200/1 to win the Super Bowl this year.
New England vs Houston betting odds
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