Texans vs. Colts Predictions, Picks & Odds: NFL Week 1, Sunday 9/8
One of the matchups during the 1 PM slate for our first full day of Sunday NFL action is an AFC South rivalry, which is a division that has been up for grabs the past few seasons. The Houston Texans won it last year, and they’ll be inside Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the Indianapolis Colts.
There is no shortage of storylines when it comes to these two teams, especially with each of them selecting a QB in the first round of the NFL Draft two seasons ago. With so much to discuss, we’ve shared our best Texans vs. Colts predictions and how to use our best bet with a guaranteed $250+ DraftKings Sportsbook promo.
Texans vs. Colts Predictions For NFL Week 1, Sunday, 9/8
Not only did the Texans and Colts both select QBs two seasons ago, but they were just two picks apart. Houston’s C.J. Stroud went on to set rookie records last season, while Indy’s Anthony Richardson looked electric until a shoulder injury ended his season.
Stroud went on to lead the Texans to being the team that exceeded expectations the most last year, winning the AFC South after having the second-shortest odds to have the worst record in the NFL entering the season.
As for the Colts, they still held their own and ended the year with a winning record behind backup QB Gardner Minshew. That was even with star RB Jonathan Taylor fighting through ankle injuries, and he torched the Texans in the season finale with 188 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Houston still won that season-ending game, preventing the Colts from earning a playoff spot, so Indy will certainly be out for revenge.
Houston Texans: Building On Last Year’s Success
Before we get into the Texans vs. Colts odds and the best bet from our Texans vs. Colts picks, we want to take a closer look at each team. As mentioned, the Texans were undoubtedly the biggest surprise story in the NFL last season, at least from a positive standpoint.
Not only did they do so with a rookie QB under center, but they also had a first-year head coach at the helm in DeMeco Ryans. It’s that the franchise doesn’t feel as though it was a fluke, either. They doubled down on their success this offseason with some of the biggest additions, including former Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs and former Cincinnati Bengals RB Joe Mixon.
Their offense was already one to be feared, and those acquisitions have them looking even more explosive.
Indianapolis Colts: Riding The Return Of Richardson
The Colts looked as though they were on a similar trajectory to begin last season given the dynamic play of Richardson. The dual-threat QB looked every bit the part, but more hits than usual came with the territory.
That led Richardson to his season-ending shoulder injury, and ultimately, Indy missing the postseason. While the surgery was actually one that could have been held off, it was a long-term decision, and now he’ll be fully healthy and ready to be under center against the Texans on Sunday.
Along with the team extended WR Michael Pittman and Taylor healthy thus far, they certainly have the talent to hang with Houston.
Texans vs. Colts Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
That’s a perfect transition into the latest Texans vs. Colts odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. You can see that with a tight point spread within the key number of three, oddsmakers also feel as though it should be a competitive game.
- Point Spread: Houston Texans -2.5 (-112) vs. Indianapolis Colts +2.5 (-108)
- Money Line: Houston Texans (-135) vs. Indianapolis Colts (+114)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 48.5 (-110) vs. Under 48.5 (-110)
Texans vs. Colts Over 48.5 Points (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Given that such a tight matchup looks to be on the horizon, we’re going to focus our Texans vs. Colts predictions on the total instead. In that regard, we’re expecting the young leaders of these teams to march up and down the field.
In terms of their two matchups last year, they were 1-1 both against the spread and for the over/under. However, we’re willing to put a bit more emphasis on the first matchup, as that is when the Colts had Richardson calling the shots.
Not only did that game surpass the total, but it did so with flying colors - by 11 points! So, it’s no shock that this season-opening matchup has one of the higher totals on the board, but it’s still justified and there is still value to be had.
We already mentioned that Indy’s Jonathan Taylor crushed Houston on the ground, and where Indy is vulnerable is through the air. Well, Stroud threw for 384 yards and two touchdowns in his first game against the Colts, and that was just his second career NFL start! Now he has Diggs to throw to and Mixon to take pressure off him, so we’re confident making the best bet from our Texans vs. Colts predictions over 48.5 points (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook).
Texans vs. Colts Injury Report & Latest News
As with any matchup, before locking in any Texans vs. Colts picks, make sure you’re aware of the injury concerns ahead of the matchup:
HOU Texans:
- MJ Stewart (Questionable)
- Dylan Horton (OUT)
IND Colts:
- Josh Downs (Questionable)
- Matt Gay (Questionable)
How To Bet On Texans vs. Colts At DraftKings Sportsbook & Claim Your $250+ Bonus
We shared that our Texans vs. Colts predictions would come alongside a guaranteed DraftKings sign up bonus, so let’s go through that process. It’s a super quick and easy one, especially since no DraftKings promo code is required when you become a new member through this article. Once you’ve joined, just deposit $5 or more.
Then, wager $5 or more on our Texans vs. Colts predictions, your own Texans vs. Colts picks or even something other than the NFL. No matter what it is, and no matter if it wins or loses, DK will award you $250 in bonus bets AND a free month of NFL+ Premium!
You couldn’t ask for a more generous way to start the season - grab your guaranteed $250+ value by joining DraftKings today!
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Beat reporter John Hendrix reports that free agent WR Donovan Peoples-Jones is among the 16 players that the Saints will host for their rookie minicamp.
Peoples-Jones last played regular season snaps with the Lions back in 2023, when he caught 13-of-24 targets for 155 yards. He is highly unlikely to return to fantasy relevance at this point but could perhaps sign on as a special teams contributor.
Titans signed fourth-round pick WR Elic Ayomanor to a four-year contract.
Ayomanor will now begin learning behind Calvin Ridley. Although Ayomanor is unlikely to find a meaningful role in year one, dynasty managers should note his status as training camp gets underway this summer. The former Stanford receiver flashed big-play ability in his two college seasons.
Buccaneers signed seventh-round pick WR Tez Johnson to a four-year contract.
Johnson will serve as a rotational deep-threat option for Baker Mayfield. His thin frame (5'10/154) simply does not lend itself to the repeated hits one incurs in a full-time role. Johnson did earn 100-plus targets in his two seasons at Oregon, though. His big-play style make him a better fit in best ball for now, pending any major on-field breakthroughs.
Giants waived DT Casey Rogers.
Rogers was a 2024 undrafted free agent and logged 33 defensive snaps for the Giants in his rookie season. He is credited with zero tackles and/or sacks. He may find his way onto another roster as a practice squad option.
Vikings signed third-round pick WR Tai Felton to a four-year contract.
Felton is quietly in play to challenge Vikings No. 3 WR Jalen Nailor in training camp. Nailor (5'11/190) caught 28-of-42 targets for 414 yards and six touchdowns in his first season as a starter last year, with the latter category buoying his fantasy productivity. Felton (6'1/183), meanwhile, caught 96-of-143 targets for 1,119 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 2.32 yards per route run in his final college season. Fantasy managers should monitor Felton’s training camp reports this summer, as he could have a matchup-based WR5 role if everything falls into place.