Sunday Football is here, folks! With it, we have one of the most exciting young matchups in week one with the Texans at the Colts! A battle between two of the most electric second-year quarterbacks in the league, CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson, will battle in this early AFC South showdown. As the Texans look to prove they’re a real contender in the league, this may be the game to watch in one of the most competitive divisions in the league! Kickoff starts at 1:00 PM ET, so don’t miss this one!
Texans @ Colts. Who wins?
Texans +3
Colts +4
We’re going to go with the odds-on favorite here with the Texans. They’re a slight favorite playing away, but Houston might be even more dangerous this year with their off-season additions! Adding Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon to round out what was already a solid offense, this Colts defense will have their work cut out for them! If this game turns into a shootout, it could be anyone’s game. Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor might be the league’s second most dangerous running combo behind Henry and Lamar. With Richardson hopefully at full strength, this could be an early statement game for him and this Colts roster.
How many total points?
49 or more +1
48 or fewer +1
The points total is a coin flip in this game. The over is a fair bet, though. The Colts did little to correct their secondary issues, clearly relying on internal growth. They did add Laiatu Latu to help their pass rush, which could be critical in a game like this. However, that might not be enough for a Houston offense that will be attacking on all fronts. We could easily see this Houston WR core have a significant effect against Indianapolis.
Who scores first?
Texans +1
Colts +1
First score is normally a toss-up in such a close matchup like this. We’d like to hedge towards Houston here, considering their defense should be able to slow down Indionplois. This one will all depend on the coin toss with two strong offensive teams, we’ll likely see scoring early, and abundantly.
What will be the result of the Colts’ 1st drive of the game?
Punt +1
Points +2
Turnover/FG Miss +5
The first drive will depend on how the Colts establish the run game. Their two blue chippers could give this Houston defense problems if they can get it going early. Points feel like a good guess, but if you’re looking to play it safe, a punt is probably the way to go. With so little info on these teams at full strength, it’s hard to say how the early game will go for the Colts.
Which player has more rushing yards?
Jonathan Taylor (KC) +2
Joe Mixon (BAL) +2
Jonathan Taylor is the value pick here. As one of the best rushers in the league for the last couple of years, Taylor will probably be the workhorse for this offense. Considering Mixon has less connection with the Houst on offense and the number of viable offense weapons that the roster has, Mixon will probably lack the attempts Taylor will receive. We expect Taylor to be the feature back of this matchup.
Pick a player to score a Touchdown:
Jonathan Taylor (IND) +1
Stefon Diggs (HOU) +2
Alec Pierce (IND) +3
Brevin Jordan (HOU) +4
Well, there is a clear safe bet here in Jonathan Taylor. He is a touch down machine when healthy, but he may have more competition at the goal line than ever next to Richardson. Both have power and athleticism that make them terrifying in goal-line situations. If you’re looking for something with a little more spice to it, Pierce is a fun option too. As the second receiver behind Michael Pittman Jr. he might have some opportunities to convert in the red zone.
How many passing yards for CJ Stroud (HOU)?
278 or more +1
277 or fewer +1
Considering CJ Stroud passed for over 4000 yards last year, and he now has Stefon Diggs alongside Tank Dell and Nico Collins, the over is a strong bet here. Considering the Colts’ secondary as well, this might be a game with tons of yards through the air. The only saving grace for this one would be the Colts pass rush.
How many rushing yards for Anthony Richardson (IND)?
42 or more +1
41 or fewer +1
Even though the sample size from last year was small, at just four games, Richardson can move. Drawing comparisons to Josh Allen, hopes are high for this second-year quarterback’s ability to move the ball himself. Still, it’s a bit uncertain how much of that will be in the Colts’ playbook. Considering Richardson’s season-ending injury last year, we could see them be cautious with him. Being week one, we don’t think he’ll get out and in too much against a solid defense like Houston. Though 41 isn’t a high total for a guy as physically gifted as Richardson.
Which of these players has the MOST receiving yards?
Nico Collins (HOU) +2
Michael Pittman Jr (IND) +2
Stefon Diggs (HOU) +2
In a crowded Houston receiver room, any of their guys could take off for big games. It’ll all depend on the matchup and scheme. Even though we like Collins and Diggs for this pick, we have no idea what their new receiver hierarchy will look like until Sunday. For that reason, Pittman feels like our man. He’s a top-level receiver, as is the undisputed WR1. Even though we haven’t seen a ton of Richardson to Pittman yet, there is a chance this could turn into one of the most potent tandems in the league. We’d go with Pittman here solely for his undisputed position in the Colts offense.
Will either team score a defensive or special teams touchdown?
Yes +3
No +1
We’re inclined to say no, with most defensive scores coming from interceptions. Stroud was one of the least turnover-prone QBs in the league last year, only giving up 5 INTs in 15 games. As a rookie who took plenty of shots downfield, there is no reason to bet against him giving up anything easy for this Colts’ defense. Richardson is less of a sure thing, but in his limited time last year, he was only picked off once. Pair that with two veteran running backs on both sides. We doubt ball security will be an issue in this game.
Will there be a tie or a lead change in the 4th quarter?
Yes +1
No +1
A tie or lead change is very possible in a shootout like this one. With the game in Indianapolis, this game should be tight. Even though we are favoring Houston in this game, you can’t count out the home field advantage. Even Vegas is expected to be close with a 3-point spread. We’d hedge on Yes here if this game goes how we think it will!
