Houston Texans 2012-2013 Season Odds

The Houston Texans recorded a number of firsts last season. Their first division title. Their first trip to the playoffs. And, their first playoff win. Their playoff journey ended in the Divisional round against Baltimore, but that could be just the first step to a successful run for the Texans.

Odds to win AFC South: 1/5
Regular Season Win Total: 10 (Over -160)
Props: NFL MVP Odds Arian Foster 15/1

The most amazing thing about Houston season last year was that they did it despite a number of injuries to key personnel. Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson combined to miss 18 games last season, but Houston still won 10 games to take the division.

Schaub still passed for 2479 yards in 10 games last season, along with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. He did without Andrew Johnson for most of the season, as the speedy receiver was relegated to seven games. Johnson has proven to be injury prone for most of his career, missing 19 games in the last five seasons alone. With Jacoby Jones moved on to Baltimore Schaub needs a healthy Johnson this season.

The Texans boasted the No. 2 running game in the league last year thanks to Foster and Ben Tate. Foster is arguably the top running back in the league. He averaged 94.2 rushing yards per game last season and he's one of the best receiving backs in the league as well. Tate filled in admirably when Foster was out last season, averaging 98.3 yards per game in three starts.

The Houston defense was the No. 2 unit in the league last season, allowing an average of 285.7 yards per game. They lost Mario Williams to free agency in the offseason, but his loss may not b as big as you think, considering he only played in five games last season.

With an offense loaded with stars and a defense that often gets overlooked the Texans should easily be the ones to beat in the AFC South this season and should challenge for top spot in the conference.

Odds to win AFC South at Bovada as of August 20
Houston Texans 1/5
Tennessee Titans 9/2
Indianapolis Colts 18/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 18/1

2012 Houston Texans Schedule (All times Eastern)

01 Sep9 MIA @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
02 Sep 16 HOU @ JAC (Everbank Field 1:00pm CBS)
03 Sep 23 HOU @ DEN (Sports Authority Field at Mile High 4:25pm CBS)
04 Sep 30 TEN @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
05 Oct 8 HOU @ NYJ (MetLife Stadium 8:30pm ESPN)
06 Oct 14 GB @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 8:20 pm NBC)
07 Oct 21 BAL @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
08 BYE
09 Nov 4 BUF @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
10 Nov 11 HOU @ CHI (Soldier Field 8:20pm NBC)
11 Nov 18 JAC @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
12 Nov 22 HOU @ DET (Ford Field 12:30pm CBS)
13 Dec 2 HOU @ Ten (LP Field 1:00pm CBS)
14 Dec 10 HOU @ NE (Gillette Stadium 8:30pm ESPN)
15 Dec 16 IND @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
16 Dec 23 MIN @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm FOX)
17 Dec 30 HOU @ IND (Lucas Oil Stadium 1:00pm CBS)

Houston Texans 2011-2012 Season Odds Preview

Out of nowhere, undrafted running back Arian Foster exploded onto the scene last year, rushing for more yards and touchdowns than any other running back in the league, by a substantial margin. Foster’s breakout, coupled with an outstanding passing game, should have yielded some success.

But Houston finished just 6-10, plagued by the worst passing defense in the NFL (267.5 yards against per game). The Texans have made strides to improve the unit, and could win the AFC South if those moves work.

Odds to Win AFC: 12/1
Regular Season Win Total: Over 8.5
Props: MVP Odds Matt Schaub 22/1

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Matt Schaub is one of the most consistently underrated quarterback in all of football. Schaub finished fourth behind Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees last season with 4,370 passing yards; one year removed from leading the league in passing yards in 2009 with 4,770.

His primary target, Andre Johnson, is one of the best wide receivers in football. Johnson caught 86 passes for 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

In Schaub, Johnson, and Foster, the Texans have one of the best players in the league at each skill position on offense. As a result, they have finished in the top four on offense with over 380 yards per game in each of the last two seasons.

Will this be the year the defense does its part? Houston’s league-worst pass defense last season led them to finish 30th in total defense (376.9 yards per game) and 29th in scoring defense (26.7 points per game); stats that made the Texans’ firepower on offense irrelevant.

Houston went out and signed shutdown cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who should make an immediate impact in the secondary. They also used their first two draft picks (11th and 42nd overall) on defensive ends, and their next two (60th, 127th) on cornerbacks.

The pass defense can’t possibly be worse than it was in 2010, and it could be significantly better with Joseph on board. If Peyton Manning’s neck injury forces him to miss time and Indianapolis falters this season, the door could be wide open for the Texans. They’ve been in this spot of “popular preseason pick” before; this year, they need to go out and execute.

Week 1: vs. Indianapolis

AFC Conference Odds at Bodog as of September 01:
Indianapolis Colts 9/1
Houston Texans 12/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 35/1
Tennessee Titans 35/1

2011 Houston Texans Schedule (All times Eastern)

01 Sep 11 IND @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
02 Sep 18 HOU @ MIA (Sun Life Stadium 4:15pm CBS0
03 Sep 25 HOU @ NO (Superdome 1:00pm CBS)
04 Oct 02 PIT @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
05 Oct 09 OAK @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
06 Oct 16 HOU @ BAL (M&T Bank Stadium 4:05pm CBS)
07 Oct 23 HOU @ TEN (LP Field 1:00pm CBS)
08 Oct 30 JAC @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
09 Nov 06 CLE @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
10 Nov 13 HOU @ TB (Raymond James Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
11 Bye    
12 Nov 27 HOU @ JAC (EverBank Field 1:00pm CBS)
13 Dec 04 ATL @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm FOX)
14 Dec 11 HOU @ CIN (Paul Brown Stadium 1:00pm CBS)
15 Dec 18 CAR @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm FOX)
16 Dec 22 HOU @ IND (Lucas Oil Stadium 8:20pm NFLN)
17 Jan 01 TEN @ HOU (Reliant Stadium 1:00pm CBS)