Houston Texans vs. New York Giants: Betting Odds, Analysis and Pick Prediction

The New York Giants will be home underdogs for the second straight week and will look to avoid an 0-3 start for the second consecutive season when they host the surging Houston Texans on Sunday.

The Giants started last year 0-6 straight up and 1-5 against the spread, while the Texans are hoping things have finally turned around for them after a dismal 2013 campaign that saw them go 2-14 SU and 4-12 ATS.

Point spread: The Texans opened as 2.5-point favorites, but it was bet down to a single point by Thursday at most sportsbooks tracked by Odds Shark; the total was 42. (Line updates and matchup report)

Odds Shark computer prediction: 16.2-15.1 Giants

Why the Texans can cover the spread

Houston got off to a 2-0 start last season too before the wheels started to fall off, but new head coach Bill O’Brien seems to have his team pointed in the right direction in 2014.

Even though starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will likely not put up fantasy football numbers for the Texans, the Harvard graduate is obviously smart and may be the perfect stopgap signal-caller for O’Brien this year.

Fitzpatrick threw for just 139 yards last week in a 30-14 road win against the Oakland Raiders, but he tossed two touchdown passes and avoided throwing an interception for the second game in a row.

Houston has covered its first two games easily as a three-point favorite both times and may be looking at the exact same number prior to kickoff at the Meadowlands if the betting pattern reverses late in the week (currently, the number has shrunk as Giants money came in during the week).

Why the Giants can cover the spread

Bettors and fans have seen this from New York before, with the team starting slow and recovering around midseason to make a run at the Super Bowl. It did not work out that way last year, but the Giants still have better talent than what they have shown through their first two games this season.

Starting quarterback Eli Manning has not been on the same page as his receivers early on, and that has been evident with him throwing four interceptions already this year. If Manning can cut down on his picks, his team still has the potential to play like the end of 2013 when New York won seven of its last 10 games.

The Giants crushed the Texans 34-10 at Houston in the last meeting four years ago as three-point underdogs, and they can do it again if the offense gets on track.

Smart Pick

Is New York the same team from last year that got off to a brutal start and finished 7-9 both SU and ATS, or are the Giants a Super Bowl-caliber team capable of turning things around right now? We will probably get the answer this week against the Texans, who may be limited offensively but still have one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Houston can pressure Manning into more mistakes and make his nightmares continue with All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt chasing him around.

New York is 0-5 ATS in its past five home games against AFC South opponents, according to the NFL Week 3 betting trends report, and that losing streak will continue.

Trends

• Texans 2-5 ATS last seven games as road favorites
• Texans 1-3-1 ATS last five road games vs. NFC East
• Giants 0-5 ATS last five home games vs. AFC South
• OVER 3-0 in Houston’s last three games as road favorite

Note: All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark—follow on Twitter for injury updates and line move updates.