Despite questions at the quarterback position, the Houston Texans appear primed to contend in the AFC South as they take on the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football. The Texans (1-1) have had just two losing seasons since 2013 and finished 4-12 a year ago. They have made the postseason in four of the past six years. The Panthers (2-0) are looking to post their first winning season since going 11-5 in 2017. Carolina was 5-11 the last two seasons.
Kickoff from NRG Stadium in Houston is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Carolina is an eight-point favorite in the latest Panthers vs. Texans odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 43. Before you make any Texans vs. Panthers picks, make sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up almost $7,800 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception six-plus years ago. It went a sizzling 24-14 on top-rated NFL picks last season, returning more than $800. The model also enters Week 3 of the 2021 season on an incredible 122-81 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season.
The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past five years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94 percent of CBS Sports Football Pick’em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has simulated Panthers vs. Texans 10,000 times and just revealed its NFL expert picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting trends for Panthers vs. Texans:
- Panthers vs. Texans spread: Panthers -8
- Panthers vs. Texans over-under: 43 points
- Panthers vs. Texans money line: Houston +320, Carolina -420
- CAR: Panthers are 7-0 against the spread in their last seven road games
- HOU: Over has hit in the Texans’ last four games
Why the Panthers can cover
The Panthers’ defense has come to play this season and is led by linebacker Shaq Thompson. Thompson paces the team with 14 tackles, including seven solo, with one sack for 10 yards and one tackle for loss. He has two pass breakups and intercepted one pass for 29 yards. In the last meeting against Houston, Thompson had 12 tackles and a sack.
Also powering Carolina is defensive end Brian Burns, who had a sack in Week 2. He has a sack in six of his past seven road games and is looking for his fifth game in a row with one. He has 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery he returned for a score in four games against the AFC South.
Why the Texans can cover
Houston is hoping for a solid performance from backup quarterback Davis Mills. Selected in the third round (67th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Stanford, Mills is expected to make his first NFL start. He passed for 102 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his NFL debut on Sunday. In three seasons at Stanford, Mills completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 3,468 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also rushed for three scores.
Running back Mark Ingram leads the Texans in rushing with 126 yards on 40 carries (3.2 average) and one touchdown. He has converted five first downs. In his last appearance on Thursday Night Football as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Ingram scored two touchdowns, one receiving and one rushing, against the New York Jets. He leads all active running backs in rushing yards with 7,450 and rushing touchdowns with 63.
How to make Panthers vs. Texans picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 45 points. In fact, it says Carolina’s Sam Darnold will throw for nearly 300 yards passing and two touchdowns, while Houston quarterback Davis Mills steps in to throw for more than 200 yards and one TD. It also says one side of the spread cashes in over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see which side to back here.
So who wins Texans vs. Panthers on Thursday Night Football? And which side cashes in over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Texans vs. Panthers spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up nearly $7,900 on its NFL picks, and find out.
