The Carolina Panthers (2-0) and Houston Texans (1-1) meet for Thursday Night Football at NRG Stadium in Houston. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Panthers vs. Texans odds and lines, and make our best NFL picks, predictions and bets.
The Panthers have fired out of the gate with a 2-0 straight up and against the spread mark. They beat the New York Jets by a 19-14 score in Week 1 and pounded the New Orleans Saints 26-7 as 3-point home underdogs last week. The Under connected in each outing.
The Texans, expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL, opened with an impressive win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. They also put up a good fight in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns on the road before falling 31-21. Houston is 2-0 ATS with a pair of Over results.
Panthers at Texans odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated 9:42 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Panthers -450 (bet $450 to win $100) | Texans +330 (bet $100 to win $330)
- Against the spread (ATS): Panthers -8.5 (-110) | Texans +8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 43.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Panthers at Texans key injuries
Panthers
- DE Yetur Gross-Matos (ankle) out
Texans
- LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (knee) questionable
- QB Tyrod Taylor (thigh) IR
- DB Terrance Mitchell (concussion) out
- DB Justin Reid (knee) questionable
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Panthers at Texans odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Panthers 30, Texans 13
Money line
The Panthers (-450) will cost you four and half times your potential return, and that’s a bit hefty for a team playing its first road game of the season.
The Texans won their home opener rather handily, but they must now turn to rookie QB Davis Mills for his first NFL start after losing Taylor to a thigh injury.
AVOID, and look to the spread instead.
Against the spread
The PANTHERS -8.5 (-110) are the play. While Carolina is playing its first game on the road, it lucks into a situation facing a rookie QB making his first NFL start on a short week.
The Texans have fought hard to this point, but eventually, the bottom is going to drop out, and this is a good spot for an egg-laying given the circumstances.
Over/Under
The UNDER 43.5 (-115) is the play but go lightly.
The Panthers can be rather conservative on offense, although offensive coordinator Joe Brady kicked the training wheels off a little bit this past Sunday.
Don’t expect much productivity out of Mills and the Texans offense, as they face a quick turnaround. They’ll be much better next week after having a few extra days to prep for Week 4, but this is going to be a disjointed effort offensively.
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