Cleveland Browns (3-4) vs. Houston Texans (5-3) NFL Betting Preview
Houston is looking to finally get to the playoffs after many near misses, and so far this season they are on the right path.
Cleveland has had more injuries than any other team in the NFL. The Browns are looking to get healthy and get back on track.
Time/Date: 1:00 PM EST, November 6, 2011
Venue: Reliant Stadium
Broadcast: CBS
Browns vs. Texans Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Spread: Texans -11
Moneyline: Texans (-600) Browns (+475)
Over/Under: 41
The oddsmakers have the Texans as a big favorite here. Let’s take a closer look at this matchup.
Peyton Hillis was one of the best stories of the 2010-2011 NFL season, but this season has been much different. Hillis and the Browns front office don’t seem to be getting along, and Hillis has already missed three games. The team clearly needs their power runner in the lineup, but he is listed as questionable for this game. Colt McCoy is completing just 57% of his passes, but he has improved his touchdown/interception ratio this season. To be fair, McCoy has had a tough job since the Browns don’t have many weapons on the outside, and Hillis hasn’t been playing. This offense is averaging just 15 points per game.
The Browns defense has kept them in just about every game this year. Joe Haden is one of the best young cover corners in the NFL. Cleveland ranks second in the NFL in pass defense. The team has struggled against power running teams. It will be interesting to see how this unit fares against a balanced offensive attack like Houston’s.
The Houston Texans have played the last four games without their best player. Andre Johnson suffered a hamstring injury in week four, and he has yet to return. Johnson is listed as questionable for this game, and he is expected to be a game time decision. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Texans have gotten some great productivity out of the running back spot this season. Arian Foster and Ben Tate have both been tremendous. Both of them have already run for more than 500 yards this year. Owen Daniels is becoming Matt Schaub’s safety net. Schaub has thrown 13 touchdowns and just five picks. The Texans average 26 points per game.
Houston would have made the playoffs last year if it weren’t for the terrible play of their secondary. In the offseason the Texans addressed this need. Johnathan Joseph is one of the NFL’s best corners, and Houston signed him to shore up the secondary. The team had the worst pass defense in the NFL last year, but this year they are fifth best in the league against the pass. There’s nothing like turning a weakness into a strength! Brian Cushing is the Texans play maker at the middle linebacker spot. Houston is third in the NFL in total defense.
The Browns only have one loss that was larger than ten points this season. Houston only has two wins by a larger spread than ten points. The 11 point spread in this one seems a little too big to me. I’ll take the underdog here.
Free NFL Pick: Browns +11
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