Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys: An Expert Guide to Betting Week 5
By David Graf
![HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 30: Chad Slade #62 of the Houston Texans (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 30: Chad Slade #62 of the Houston Texans (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/431f3a9b9d3e62d180a1e8bd5263bcd0aa3dbca70aa9a95a04c85435d454228a.jpg)
The Houston Texans take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football this weekend. Here is the only guide you need to betting this week’s game.
The Houston Texans finally notched their first win of the season last week in Indianapolis. They can thank Frank Reich for apparently abhorring ties and going for it on fourth down on his own side of the field in overtime.
On the gambling front, I went 0-2, but if you faded my picks as I suggested, you had a nice little day betting the Texans game. This weekend’s matchup is against the Dallas Cowboys, and a win for the Texans would start what is called a “winning streak.”
This week’s game will be televised on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” at 7:20 CDT. It’s sure to be a raucous crowd at home in NRG Stadium. In Houston, the game can be listened to on the radio on SportsRadio 610 AM and 100.3 FM The Bull.
Must Read. Keke Coutee compares well to Wes Welker. light
Nevada no longer holds a monopoly on the sports gambling business. Full-scale legalized sports betting is now available in Mississippi, West Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware too.
If you’re interested, it’s 6 hours and 22 minutes from NRG Stadium to Biloxi, Miss. if you want to make a quick road trip before Sunday’s game to place your legal wagers. As a result of sports gambling no longer being in the shadows, I would like to give you some advice on how to wager on the Houston Texans’ game each Sunday. Always remember to never bet more than you can afford to lose, and please, gamble responsibly.
Matchup: vs. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
This season the Cowboys have looked miserable in their road games. They lost at Carolina and at Seattle and never really put up much of a fight. Meanwhile, they have looked dominant at home in their wins over the New York Giants and Detroit Lions.
No Houston Texans fan will ever forget that first regular season game against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, and I expect that same kind of electricity for this Sunday’s matchup. There was so much hope going into this season for the Texans, and this isn’t an annual regular season matchup.
These two teams haven’t met in the regular season since 2014, and the Cowboys defended their home turf in a 20-17 win. There aren’t many of the same faces from that game except the head coaches of each team. The Cowboys have actually won all three meetings between the two teams since that inaugural game in 2002.
Ezekiel Elliott is the best running back that the Houston Texans will have faced this season with apologies to Saquon Barkley. He’s the Cowboys’ major offensive weapon and is more than capable of leading the team to victory without much from Dak Prescott and the passing game.
Prescott is the worst starting quarterback that the Texans defense will have faced so far this season, and he has a limited cache of weapons to throw to. As a result, this is an excellent matchup for the Texans defense to finally limit a team under 20 points this season.
The Cowboys defense has allowed the fifth-fewest yards and seventh-fewest points per game in the NFL this season, so it will provide a unique matchup against a Texans team that has put up a lot of their numbers in garbage time.
Both teams need to win Sunday and not just for Lone Star State pride. The Texans want to try and remain in the playoff race, and the Cowboys could take an early division lead if the Redskins and Eagles both lose.
For the Cowboys, linebacker Sean Lee and center Travis Frederick did not practice on Wednesday and play important roles on both sides of the ball. Lee is the captain of the defense, but Jaylon Smith has begun to take over the lead playmaker on that side of the ball. Frederick has yet to play this season, and it’s not really known when he’ll be back.
Lamar Miller may be banged up for the Texans after not participating in the waning moments of the win in Indy, and cornerback Aaron Colvin is likely to miss six weeks with an ankle injury according to the Houston Chronicle. I’m not too worried about guys like Jadeveon Clowney and DeAndre Hopkins being on the injury report.
Line: Texans -3 and Total: 45.5
The Texans are 1-3 all-time against the Cowboys and have covered the spread two out of four times. The total has also gone under all four times these two teams have met in the regular season.
I’m not willing to glean anything from these two teams’ preseason meetings. They usually play in Week 4 of the preseason and starters don’t take many reps then if at all.
The Texans should want this game more on Sunday, but I think it will come down to which head coach doesn’t lose the game for his team. Jason Garrett regularly challenges Bill O’Brien for the least competent-seeming head coach, and I can’t wait to laugh as Cris Collinsworth tries to persuade me about how intelligent each is.
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Deshaun Watson will outplay Prescott, but Zeek will run wild against Clowney and co. The difference will be that Watson has playmakers to throw to like Hopkins and Keke Coutee. I believe that Coutee scores the first touchdown of his career on Sunday night, so if you have props related to him, I would bet them.
While I think the Texans should limit the Cowboys to under 20 points, I don’t have much faith in them. They’ve been torched by everyone they have played this season, but the total has gone under four times before, and I don’t want to tempt fate.
Prediction: Texans 23-Cowboys 17
Season Gambling Record: 1-3
Next. The good, bad, and ugly from week four. dark
If I just jinxed the Houston Texans, I apologize in advance. I believe though that the Texans will get their first home win of the season and keep the Cowboys winless on the road. Watson was magical against the Kansas City Chiefs last season on Sunday Night Football, and all he needs to do is win this Sunday to be magical.
All odds are courtesy of Oddsshark.com.