Houston Texans vs. San Francisco 49ers odds predictions pick betting line spread

The Houston Texans (4-11) start the new year on the road against the San Francisco 49ers (8-7). Kickoff is Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium. Below, we look at the Texans at 49ers odds and lines, and make our best NFL picks, predictions and bets.

The Texans have found something good late in the season. Averaging only 16.5 points per game all year, they have won two games in a row, scoring 71 points in those contests. QB Davis Mills has four touchdown passes and only one interception in the two wins.

The 49ers are battling to clinch a playoff berth but will likely be without QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who injured his thumb in the 49ers’ 20-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans last week. They have won five of their last seven games, averaging 27.4 points per game in that stretch.

Also see: Bet Slippin’ Podcast: NFL Week 17 picks and predictions

Texans at 49ers odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 4:37 p.m. ET.

Money line: Texans +520 (bet $100 to win $520) | 49ers -800 (bet $800 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Texans +11.5 (-110) | 49ers -11.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 43.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Texans at 49ers key injuries

Texans

QB Deshaun Watson (not with team) out
WR Chris Conley (knee) questionable
CB Jimmy Moreland (illness) questionable
S A.J. Moore Jr. (illness) questionable

49ers

LB Dre Greenlaw (groin) out
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) out
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) doubtful
RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) questionable

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Texans at 49ers odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Texans 24, 49ers 16

Money line

If there is an underdog money line play to make this week, this is the game. The 49ers will have rookie QB Trey Lance under center and, in his one start this season, the 49ers mustered only 10 points. With Mitchell hurt, they won’t have quite the running attack they want.

Mills is playing very well right now. The 49ers are only 18th in the league in points allowed and the Texans are rolling offensively.

A hot team going against one that will likely be without Garoppolo. If Lance is starting, as he is expected to, take the TEXANS (+520),

Against the spread

The Texans are 7-8 ATS this season and have covered the spread in their last two, as they picked up outright underdog wins. They are 4-4 ATS as underdogs of 10 or more points.

The 49ers are 7-8 ATS this season and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games. But they are 0-1 ATS with Lance starting. They will not be able to produce the offense necessary to cover this week.

Take the TEXANS +11.5 (-110).

Over/Under

The last three games for the 49ers and five of the last seven games have gone Under the projected total. They could only score 10 points in Lance’s other start this season.

The Texans’ last three have hit the Over. Houston can hit the 20-point mark, but the Niners will struggle again.

Take UNDER 43.5 (-110).

Also see: All Week 17 odds and lines

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NFL point-spread favorites continued their late-season surge last week, but we hit on two of our three selections here in “Underdog Corner,” cashing with outright wins by the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills.

That upped our season record to a nice-and-profitable 31-17 (.646) with 26 outright winners.

Also see: All Week 17 odds and lines

NFL underdog predictions: Week 17

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 9:40 p.m. ET.

Cincinnati Bengals +5.5 (-112) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

This is a crucial contest for both of these AFC contenders with the conference’s No. 1 seed and a division title among the items on the line.

QB Patrick Mahomes and the 11-4 Chiefs have won eight straight (with six straight covers) to put the wraps on another AFC West crown and surge into pole position in the AFC.

QB Joe Burrow and the Bengals, meanwhile, have won four of their last six and need another victory to clinch their first AFC North crown since 2015.

The Chiefs are the better team with more big-game experience, but Burrow and Co. have more than enough firepower to keep this one close at home. Take the BENGALS (+5.5) and the points.

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Houston Texans +12.5 (-112) at San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco has won five of its last seven to move into the thick of the NFC playoff chase but lost last Thursday night against the Titans and now may be without starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo due to a thumb injury.

The Texans, meanwhile, have no such postseason aspirations at 4-11 but continue to play hard behind better-than-you-think rookie QB Davis Mills and have won two straight by double digits, including last Sunday’s 41-29 upset of the 13.5-point favorite Chargers.

Given the Niners’ QB uncertainty and their 5-8 against-the-spread (ATS) record at home since the start of last season, we’re taking the TEXANS (+12.5).

Pittsburgh Steelers +3.5 (-120) vs. Cleveland Browns

The 7-7-1 Steelers and 7-8 Browns still have slim AFC chances so this is basically a de facto elimination game in the regular-season Monday Night Football finale.

Pittsburgh has had the upper hand in this series of late, going 10-3-1 straight up (SU) and 8-5-1 ATS since 2015, including a 15-10 road win in Cleveland as a 5.5-point underdog on Halloween.

But the main reason we like Pittsburgh here is that this likely will be the final home game of QB Ben Roethlisberger’s storied career, and it’s hard to imagine the STEELERS (+3.5) coming up short.

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow @kenpomp on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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