Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Pick

Houston Texans (3-3 SU, 4-2 ATS) vs. Carolina Panthers (0-6 SU, 0-5-1 ATS)
NFL Football Week 8

Date/Time: Sunday, October 29th, 2023, 1:00 PM (EST)

Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
TV: FOX

Betting Odds:

Point Spread: HOU -3/CAR +3
Moneyline: HOU -155/CAR +135
Total: 44

Through 6 games this season, the Carolina Panthers remain the only winless team in the NFL in what has become an extremely disappointing start to the Frank Reich era. On the heels of a bye week, the Panthers are hoping that better days are on the opposite side of the break with their new coach and reigning #1 pick in QB Bryce Young. On Sunday, the Panthers will have the opportunity to host the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium as just mere 3 point underdogs as they look to get their first win of the season!

The visiting Texans are also on the heels of a week 7 bye following a 3-3 SU start to the season. Despite the mere .500 record, the Texans have definitely overachieved this season as many were expecting Houston to be the worst team in football. Instead, QB C.J Stroud has given life to the offense, and the Texans have been competitive in every game this season. While there are still areas of concern, Houston appears to have the nucleus of their offense, which revolves around an underrated passing attack producing 277 yards per game through the air. This week, the Texans look to keep their momentum going in what appears to be an advantageous match-up on the road at Carolina.

Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Analysis

Before we dive into the match-up and how each team stacks up against each other, let’s first address the elephant in the Panthers’ front office. QB Bryce Young has to play better if this team is going to be competitive. Young has started 5 games and thrown for just 967 yards with six touchdowns and four picks. I understand the Panthers’ offensive line has struggled, and the run game has been unhelpful. However, the play from the quarterback position has to improve to give this team a chance, and we have seen flashes of success from WR Adam Thielen and DJ Chark Jr. However, those flashes of success have never been sustained.

From a match-up perspective, there is not anything overly daunting about this Houston defense, and perhaps that could give Carolina some confidence. In fact, the Texans’ defense has allowed 362 yards per game, which is worse than the Carolina defense that has seemingly been on the field all year. The Panthers’ run defense has been mostly concerning, but Houston has been struggling to run the football. In fact, you could make the argument that RB Devin Singletary deserves a crack at the starter role, as he has consistently outperformed RB Dameon Pierce. Either way, I’m not sure if the Texans are designed to exploit Carolina’s defensive concerns, which means this game will lie heavily on the arm of C.J. Stroud and this Houston passing attack. I believe Houston will be effective moving the football because they have some positive match-ups in the receiving corps, but it’s hard to predict how much firepower they will need against a shaky Carolina defense.

Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Trends

• Houston is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games.
• Houston is 5-13 SU in the last 18 games.
• Houston has hit the “under” in 10 of the last 15 games.
• Houston is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games on the road.
• Carolina is 0-5-1 ATS in the last 6 games.
• Carolina is 0-6 SU in the last 6 games.
• Carolina has hit the “under” in 5 of the last 7 games at home.
• Carolina is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games.

Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Prediction

On paper, this match-up is really not any different outside of the differences from the quarterback position. I’m not convinced that the Panthers will win this game outright, however, I do expect better execution from the offense. Likewise, I think Houston will have their share of success on offense as well helping us reach the “over.”

Jay’s Pick: Take the over 46