The Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers meet Saturday in NFL action from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Here’s a Chargers vs Texans prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Chargers vs Texans pick.
Houston Texans Betting Preview
Houston struggled through their first eight games this year with a 3-5 overall record. The Texans beat only Tennessee, Baltimore and San Francisco in that time, otherwise falling versus the Rams, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Seahawks and Broncos. Next came wins over the Jaguars, Titans, Bills, Colts, Chiefs and Cardinals however. That would give Houston a 9-5 overall record in their first 14 games.
In the matchup versus Las Vegas, the Texans were up 13-7 going into the second half. Houston had to hang on from there but eventually took the win 23-21 in the end. CJ Stroud was 23-of-35 for 187 yards and a touchdown, while Jawhar Jordan had 15 carries for 53 yards. Nico Collins was the top receiver on four catches for 59 yards in the victory effort for Houston.
Los Angeles Chargers Betting Preview
Over on the Chargers’ side, they went 7-4 in their first 11 games before the bye. The losses came versus the Giants, Commanders, Colts and Jaguars. Otherwise it was wins over the Chiefs, Raiders, Broncos, Dolphins, Vikings, Titans and Steelers. The next three games out of the bye were all wins over the Raiders, Eagles and Chiefs, giving the Chargers a 10-4 record over 14 games.
Matched up against the Cowboys on Sunday, the Chargers played a tight first half with a slim four-point lead. LA hit a 13-0 run from there however, resulting in a 34-17 win in the end. QB Justin Herbert finished 23-of-29 for 300 yards and two scores, while also rushing for a TD. Omarion Hampton had 16 carries for 85 yards and a TD, while Quentin Johnston added four receptions for 104 yards and a score of his own.
Why the Los Angeles Chargers will win
- The favorites have won each of the Chargers’ last 13 Week 17 games.
- The Texans have lost each of their six previous Week 17 road games.
- The favorites have covered the spread in each of the Chargers’ last nine Week 17 games.
- The Texans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games played on the West Coast.
- The home team has won the first quarter in four of the Chargers’ last five games.
- The Chargers have scored the first touchdown in seven of their last eight games played on the West Coast.
- The favorites have won the first half in each of the Chargers’ last 11 Week 17 games.
Why the Houston Texans will win
- The Texans have won each of their last seven games without Jimmie Ward.
- The Chargers have lost each of their last five games without Keenan Allen.
- The Texans have covered the spread in eight of their last nine games as underdogs without Derek Stingley Jr..
- The Chargers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games against AFC South opponents.
- The Chargers have lost the first half in seven of their last eight December games against AFC opponents.
- The Chargers have lost the first quarter in each of their last five games as favorites following a win.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Texans’ last four games in California have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Six of the Chargers’ last seven games against AFC South opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
Los Angeles Chargers Player Prop Facts
- Ladd McConkey has scored a touchdown in four of the Chargers’ last five games as home favorites.
- Justin Herbert has recorded 21+ completions in eight of the Chargers’ last nine December games as favorites against AFC opponents.
- Justin Herbert has recorded 235+ passing yards in 11 of the Chargers’ last 13 games against AFC South opponents.
- Keenan Allen has recorded 35+ receiving yards in each of his last 18 December appearances with the Chargers as favorites.
- Kimani Vidal has recorded 44+ rushing yards in each of the Chargers’ last four home games.
- Kimani Vidal has recorded 104+ rushing and receiving yards in each of the Chargers’ last four home games.
- Heading into Week 17, Cameron Dicker ranks T2nd in the NFL in made field goals (36) this season.
Houston Texans Player Prop Facts
- C.J. Stroud has recorded 22+ completions in eight of his last 10 appearances.
- C.J. Stroud has recorded 229+ passing yards in five of his last six appearances with the Texans as underdogs following a win.
- Christian Kirk has recorded 25+ receiving yards in each of his last 11 appearances on the West Coast.
- Christian Kirk has recorded 25+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last 11 appearances on the West Coast.
- Joe Mixon has scored at least one touchdown in six of his last seven road appearances against teams that held a winning record.
- Joe Mixon has recorded 72+ rushing yards in each of his last five appearances on the West Coast.
- Heading into Week 17, Calen Bullock has recorded the equal-most interceptions in a single game this season (2 vs Bills, Week 12).
Matchup/League Facts
- Chargers – two different players have recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game this season – equal-most in the NFL, heading into Week 17.
- Chargers – two different players have recorded 90+ rushing yards in a game this season – equal-most in the NFL, heading into Week 17.
- Heading into Week 17, the Texans rank 1st in the NFL in points allowed per game (16.6) this season.
- Heading into Week 17, the Texans rank 1st in the NFL in yards allowed per game (272.3) this season.
Chargers vs Texans Prediction
I’ll stick with the Chargers. LA started out a bit slowly versus the Cowboys last weekend, but to their credit they finished strong with a 17-point win. The Chargers managed 452 total yards with 7.3 yards per play, 7-of-11 on third downs and no turnovers. On defense LA gave up just 91 rushing yards and 4-of-9 on third-down tries. That makes four straight wins for the Chargers, with 22 or more points scored in three of those—not to mention fewer than 20 points allowed in all four.
As for Houston, they eked by the Raiders last weekend on 270 yards, 83 rush yards and 4.4 yards per play. The Texans held Las Vegas to 315 yards and 12 first downs on the other side while benefitting from nine Raiders penalties. Houston has won seven straight games themselves with fewer than 22 points allowed in each of the last six. Should be a pretty fun defensive matchup at least.