The 10-5 Tennessee Titans have unsurprisingly opened as road favorites over the 4-11 Houston Texans ahead of a crucial Week 17 matchup at NRG Stadium.
In fact, the spread is sizable, with the visiting Titans being 7.5-point favorites over the Texans, according to BetMGM. The over/under, which sits at 55.5, is the highest of any game this week.
Spread: Titans -7.5
Money Line: -350/+290
Over/Under: 55.5
This is the second meeting between these two teams after Tennessee topped Houston, 42-36, in overtime in Week 6. The Titans needed a last-second touchdown in regulation just to get it to that point, though.
There is a lot riding on this game for Tennessee, a team looking to punch its ticket to the postseason. Meanwhile, the best the Texans can do is play spoiler.
With a win, the Titans can secure their first AFC South crown since 2008, but a loss could end their season depending on what happens with other teams in the conference.
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There was some question about if star quarterback Deshaun Watson would suit up for the Texans after injuring his hand late in the Week 16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
However, not only did Watson say “I’ll play” when asked after the game, interim head coach Romeo Crennel made it clear that his signal-caller will play as long as he’s OK to do so, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
“I haven’t talked to medical people yet, if he’s okay, I think we should play him,” Crennel said of Watson. “Every time you’re on a football field, there’s a chance you could get hurt.”
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle is not a fan of this idea with the Texans in the midst of a transition and looking for a new head coach and general manager. He believes the Texans should protect their best asset.
No way Watson plays against the Titans. That won't sit well with the Colts, but that'll be two years in a row he's been kept out of the last game against Tennessee. Last year it was because their playoff seeding was set. This year, it should be to protect him for the new regime.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) December 27, 2020
Of course, Watson not suiting up would change things drastically, as A.J. McCarron is a nice backup but is by no means as good as the former No. 12 overall pick, who is arguably a top-five quarterback in the NFL.
As long as Watson is on the field, the Texans have as good a shot as any to pull off an upset victory over the Titans on Sunday.
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