In this article, we will formulate a Tennessee Titans vs Houston Texans prediction for this NFL game on Sunday, January 5th at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this week 18 matchup.
Tennessee Titans Betting Preview
The Tennessee Titans are 3-13 this year after they lost to Jacksonville by a score of 20-13 in their last game. Tennessee trailed 13-0 in the first half, but they did cut the deficit to 13-10 before Jacksonville was able to pull away. The Titans did drive the ball down late but was stopped just short of the end zone. The Titans outgained Jacksonville by a total of 337-295, lost the turnover battle 1-0, and went 7-14 on third down in the game. Mason Rudolph threw for 193 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while Tyjae Spears rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries in the loss.
Prior to that game, the Titans lost to Indianapolis by a score of 38-30 and Cincinnati by a score of 37-27. Tennessee has lost five games in a row and they are last in the AFC South standings, one game behind Jacksonville. The Tennessee offense has scored 18.6 points per game with 193.0 passing yards and 110.6 rushing yards per game, while the defense has allowed 27.3 points per game this season. Mason Rudolph has completed 63.5% of his passes for 1,460 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions, while Calvin Ridley has caught 61 passes for 941 yards and four scores this year. There are reports stating that the Titans are going to also play Will Levis under center, so look for both quarterbacks to play here.
Houston Texans Betting Preview
The Houston Texans are 9-7 this season after they lost to Baltimore by a score of 31-2 in their last game. Houston was able to get a safety in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 10-2, but they couldn’t score any offensive points in the blowout loss. The Texans were outgained by a total of 432-211, lost the turnover battle 1-0, and went 4-15 on third down in the game. CJ Stroud threw for 185 yards and one interception, while Nico Collins caught three passes for 59 yards in the game.
Prior to that loss, the Texans lost to Kansas City by a score of 27-19 but did beat Miami by a score of 20-12 before that. Houston has lost three of their last five games and five of their last eight, but they have already clinched the AFC South. The Houston offense has scored 21.8 points per game with 209.9 passing yards and 106.4 rushing yards per game, while the defense has allowed 22.4 points per game this season. CJ Stroud has completed 62.7% of his passes for 3,677 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while Joe Mixon has rushed for 993 yards and 11 scores this year. It sounds like the starters will play at least some snaps, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them only play one quarter or one half.
Why the Texans will beat the Titans
- The Texans have won each of their last 10 road games against AFC South opponents.
- The Titans have lost seven of their last eight games.
- The Titans have failed to cover the spread in 14 of their last 15 Sunday games.
- The Texans have covered the spread in each of their last six games against the Titans following a home loss.
- The Texans have won the first quarter in five of their last six games following a home loss.
- The Texans have won the first half in each of their last eight games following a home loss.
- The Texans have scored the first touchdown in each of their last six games following a home loss.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Texans’ last six games at Nissan Stadium following a loss have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Eight of the Titans’ last nine games as underdogs have gone OVER the total points line.
- Four of the last five games between teams from the same division have gone OVER the total points line.
Tennessee Titans Player Prop Facts
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has scored a touchdown in five of the Titans’ last six games as underdogs following a loss.
- Mason Rudolph has recorded 240+ passing yards in each of his last four home appearances as a starter.
- Tyler Boyd has recorded 23+ receiving yards in each of his last nine regular-season appearances with his team as a home underdog.
- Mason Rudolph has recorded 13+ rushing yards in five of his last six Sunday appearances.
- Tyler Boyd has recorded 23+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last nine Sunday regular-season appearances with his team as a home underdog.
- Mason Rudolph has recorded 21+ completions in each of his last four appearances with the Titans as underdogs following a loss.
- Heading into Week 18, Ryan Stonehouse ranks 1st amongst qualified players for gross average yards per punt (51.1) this season.
Houston Texans Player Prop Facts
- Joe Mixon has scored at least one touchdown in each of his last six Sunday road appearances.
- Joe Mixon has scored the first touchdown in three of the Texans’ last four games following a loss.
- Nico Collins has recorded 92+ receiving yards in each of his last five appearances against AFC South opponents.
- Joe Mixon has recorded 65+ rushing yards in each of his last eight Sunday road appearances.
- Joe Mixon has recorded 87+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last seven Sunday road appearances.
- C.J. Stroud has recorded 23+ completions in five of the Texans’ last six games as favorites following a loss.
- Heading into Week 18, Joe Mixon has recorded the equal-most rushing touchdowns in a single game this season (3 vs Cowboys, Week 11).
Matchup/League Facts
- Heading into Week 18, the Titans rank 1st in the NFL in average yards per punt (51.1) this season.
- Heading into Week 18, the Titans rank 2nd in the NFL in yards allowed per game (307.3) this season.
- Heading into Week 18, the Texans rank T1st in the NFL in H1 win percentage (75.0) this season.
- Heading into Week 18, the Texans rank 2nd in the NFL in interceptions (19) this season.
Tennessee Titans vs Houston Texans Prediction
Houston comes into this matchup just trying to stay healthy, as they look forward to their first-round playoff game next week. The Texans don’t have much to play for here, but they will try to bounce back from a two-game losing streak. Tennessee has lost five games in a row and it has been an awful season for them. The Titans did beat Houston by a score of 32-27 a few weeks ago, which was their last victory. This is a tough game to call, as we don’t know how long the Houston starters will play, but I am still going to side with Houston, as they try to go into the playoffs with at least some momentum against a bad team.