Texans’ Win Total Prediction
The Houston Texans have a new quarterback but will they repeat their performance from a year ago after winning the AFC South Division?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the over/under has been set at 8.5 for the number of wins that the Texans will have in 2016. Houston is also 33/1 to win Super Bowl 51, is 18/1 to win the AFC Conference Championship, and has odds of +190 to repeat as AFC South Division champions.
A Look Back
The Texans won the division a year ago with a 9-7 record. The team lost four of five to start the season but got hot in the second half, winning seven of their last nine games to win the division and set up a date with the Chiefs in the NFL wildcard round. Unfortunately for the Texans, Brian Hoyer had the worst game of his career in the playoffs, throwing four interceptions and fumbling once. Houston’s defense kept the game close in the first half, but once J.J. Watt left with an injury in the third quarter the Texans fell part on that side of the ball as well.
A Look Forward
Gone is Hoyer, replaced by former Bronco Brock Osweiler, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract back in March. The Texans also upgraded the weapons around their new QB, signing former Dolphin Lamar Miller and drafting receiver Will Fuller in the first round of April’s draft. The team is also expected to start second-round selection Nick Martin at center.
Season Win Prediction
Despite the number of questions that the Texans face this offseason, this team has too much talent on both sides of the ball not to match the nine wins they had a year ago. Osweiler won’t match the contract that he received but he shouldn’t be exposed either. The foundation of the Texans’ offense will also be their running game, with Miller taking over for the oft-injured Arian Foster. DeAndre Hopkins is also a rising star and Fuller will benefit playing opposite of him in Bill O’Brien’s offense. The defense is chockful of talent as well, even if Watt’s back injury is a concern at the moment.
2016 NFL SEASON WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: HOUSTON TEXANS OVER 8.5