Texans-Panthers Game: Carolina Due for a Cover

Forget that the Carolina Panthers haven't won a game yet this season.  They have yet to cover the spread either.  That's pretty difficult to do as we enter the Week 8 game against the Houston Texans. 

Line and Betting Action

The Texans are a -3 point favorite in Carolina.  Following a hot start, Houston has settled in at 3-3 Straight Up and 4-2 Against The Spread.  The line has moved primarily between 3 and 3.5 with relatively balanced action early on.  Sagarin gives us a number of 0.95 Houston, thus indicating an overlay of 2 points.  These overlays where the line is 3/3.5/4 tend to go heavily towards the dog, and Carolina is most certainly due.

Betting Preview

Carolina may finally be due but they will come into this game with an badly beaten up secondary.

This offers up the perfect scenario for TJ  Stroud, who is off to a strong start with the rookie having thrown for 1,660 yards and nine touchdowns.  He's also only thrown one interception the first half of this season.

Defensive backs Vonn Bell, Xavier Woods and Jeremy Chinn all could miss the game with injuries. It remains uncertain if cornerback Jaycee Horn is ready to return from a hamstring injury.

The Texans are expected to get WR Tank Dell back this week after he sat out Week 6 with a concussion.

If there's any good news for Carolina here it's that they've beaten the Texans in all four head-to-head meetings thus far.

Changes in Carolina

Bryce Young will be involved with a different setup as offensive coordinator Thomas Brown has taken over the play-calling for the Panthers in place of head coach Frank Reich.

"There's still going to be a lot of collaboration," Reich said. "Thomas is going to be in charge. It's not going to be micromanaged. The staff will contribute like they do, but Thomas will be (making) the play-by-play decisions."

Stroud has thrown nine touchdowns with only one interception.  The Texans have only scored over 20 points in only two games this season. 

Texans vs. Panthers Prop Bets

Game Props

CAR Total Touchdowns O/U 1.5
HOU Total Touchdowns O/U 2.5
CAR Total Field Goals O/U 1.5
HOU Total Field Goals O/U 1.5
Time of First Score O/U 7 (mins elapsed)
3 Straight Scores by Either Team
Team to Score Last
Team to Score First
Highest Scoring Half
Race to 10 Points
Race to 15 Points
Race to 20 Points
Will there be a safety
Largest Lead (either team) O/U 14.5
Will CAR Score on their First Drive
Defensive or special teams TD scored
Will HOU Score on their First Drive
Longest Touchdown O/U 34.5 Yards
Any Team to Score 40+ Points
Both Teams to Score 19.5
Both Teams to Score 24.5
First score of Game is Touchdown
Team to Score First Wins
Team to Score Last Wins
Will there be Overtime
Will there be a Scoreless Quarter
Total Points Odd
Total First Downs O/U 39.5
Most First Downs
First Drive Result

Margin of Victory

Texans to win by 1-6 pts         +280
Texans to win by 7-12 pts         +425
Texans to win by 13-18 pts         +600
Texans to win by 19-24 pts         +1100
Texans to win by 25-30 pts         +2000
Texans to win by 31-36 pts         +4000
Texans to win by 37-42 pts         +6600
Texans to win by 43 or More pts         +10000
Panthers to win by 1-6 pts         +350
Panthers to win by 7-12 pts         +650
Panthers to win by 13-18 pts         +1200
Panthers to win by 19-24 pts         +2500
Panthers to win by 25-30 pts         +5000
Panthers to win by 31-36 pts         +9000
Panthers to win by 37-42 pts         +10000
Panthers to win by 43 or More pts         +11000
Tie         +5000

- Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com