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Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
Dec. 5, 2021
Jonathan Willis
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Week 13 NFL Picks & Predictions

Games Scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET

An AFC South matchup sees the surging Indianapolis Colts taking on the Houston Texans. Opening kick is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET and will air on CBS from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Score Prediction

Colts 30, Jets 17

Best Bets

Colts -9 (-110) at PointsBet

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Predictions

The Indianapolis Colts have been one of the top teams in the AFC over the last two months. They are 6-3 after losing their first three games this season, and two of those losses came against Baltimore and Tennessee in overtime. The other loss this season was against the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so they are expected to have little trouble with the 2-9 Houston Texans.

Indianapolis dominated Houston 31-3 in their first meeting this season. Tyrod Taylor will be starting at quarterback instead of Davis Mills for the Texans this time, but it shouldn’t make too much of a difference considering the way that Taylor has played since returning to the field.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds




Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Betting Resources

  • Matchup: AFC South
  • Date: Sunday, December 5, 2021
  • Venue: NRG Stadium
  • Location: Houston, Texas
  • TV-Time: CBS - 1:00 p.m. ET

Week 13 NFL Picks & Predictions

Games Scheduled for 4:00 p.m. through 8:20 p.m. ET

Indianapolis Colts Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 6-6
  • ATS: 7-5
  • O/U: 8-4
  • ATS - Home: 3-4
  • ATS - Away: 4-1

Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yards. Indianapolis has the best offensive line in the league, and Taylor has taken full advantage of his situation. Taylor has run for 1,205 yards and 14 touchdowns behind this line, and he is averaging 5.8 YPC. He has run for 100 yards or more in six of his last nine games, and he has found the end zone in each of Indy’s last nine games.

That offensive line has also given Carson Wentz time to find open receivers. Wentz isn’t a great quarterback, but he has been decent in this offense. He is completing 62.8% of his passes for 7.0 YPA with 21 touchdowns and five interceptions. Wentz has been a surprisingly decent runner too, averaging 4.2 YPC but he has fumbled four times.

T.Y. Hilton is not as dangerous as he was in previous years, but the Colts have another elite receiver in Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman has 61 receptions for 805 yards and five touchdowns. Indianapolis has two receivers to target in the red zone too as Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox have combined to catch seven TDs.

The Colts have two great defenders in linebacker Darius Leonard and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Indianapolis is a slightly below average defense though, surrendering 23.6 PPG and 358.8 YPG. They have 14 interceptions though, and that’s well above the league average.

Houston Texans Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 2-9
  • ATS: 5-6
  • O/U: 4-7
  • ATS - Home: 3-2
  • ATS - Away: 2-4

Tyrod Taylor had a great first game and a half for the Texans. Taylor has not played well since returning from injury though, completing 55 of 93 passes for 505 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. He continues to be a dangerous runner when he tucks it and runs though, averaging 8.5 YPC.

That’s the only reason the Texans aren’t averaging under 3.0 YPC. This run game has been abysmal, as Houston is averaging 3.2 YPC and 78.3 YPG on the ground. David Johnson and Rex Burkhead have struggled to move the chains, and Johnson is questionable to play.

Top receiver Brandin Cooks is also questionable this Sunday with an unspecified illness. Cooks is easily the best receiver on the Texans with 62 receptions for 704 yards and three touchdowns, and no other player on Houston has more than 235 receiving yards.

Houston ranks in the bottom five in total defense and scoring defense. The Texans don’t have any very good players on this side of the ball other than Zach Cunningham, and Indianapolis can run on this front seven.


Indianapolis has covered the spread in eight of its last nine games when playing in Houston. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Indianapolis Colts

  • Record: 6-6
  • Division Standing: 2nd - AFC South
  • Points Scored: 340
  • Points Allowed: 283
  • PS/G: 28.3 (4th)
  • PA/G: 23.6 (20th)

Inside the Stats - Houston Texans

  • Record: 2-9
  • Division Standing: 3rd - AFC South
  • Points Scored: 164
  • Points Allowed: 292
  • PS/G: 14.9 (32nd)
  • PA/G: 26.5 (28th)

Key Players to Watch

  • IND: Carson Wentz - QB (250/398, 2,790 yards, 21 TD, 5 INT)
  • IND: Jonathan Taylor - RB (209 carries, 1,205 yards, 14 TD)
  • HOU: Tyrod Taylor - QB (86/137, 921 yards, 8 Total TDs, 4 INT)
  • HOU: Brandin Cooks - WR (62 catches, 704 yards, 3 TD)

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Betting Conclusion

The Colts can name the score against the Texans on Sunday. Indianapolis knows this is a must win right before the bye week, as the Colts will take on New England and Arizona in consecutive games following the bye.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Betting Trends

  • Houston has lost nine of its last 10 games.
  • Indianapolis has covered the spread in eight of its last nine games when playing in Houston.
  • Indianapolis has gone OVER the point total in four straight road games.
  • The point total has gone UNDER in four straight meetings.

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