58% of Money Bet on Titans vs Texans Game is on Houston – Picks & Odds

• The Tennessee Titans need to win on Sunday to secure their playoff spot against the Houston Texans
• 58% of the handle, 52% of the wager count and 73% of the sharp money is on Houston
• The Titans are 5-0 this season when Derrick Henry rushes for 100 yards or more – check our preview below for our prediction

Originally, many people expected the Houston Texans-Tennessee Titans Week 17 showdown to decide the AFC South title. Instead, the Texans already have the division clinched while the Titans have lost back-to-back times and now need a win to secure their playoff spot. 58% of the money on this game is on the Texans but are they the right bet here?

Tennessee Titans vs Houston Texans Odds

Odds taken Dec. 27

Win Secures Playoff Berth for Titans

The Titans come into Sunday’s affair needing a win to secure a playoff berth. There are other ways they can qualify but this is their simplest path: win and they are in. They’ve put themselves in this predicament with back-to-back losses where they never really brought their best effort.

The Titans had won six of seven by playing crisp defense, running the ball well and by avoiding mistakes. In their last two games, they’ve had a pair of ill-timed turnovers, a blocked field goal and they blew a 14-0 lead. What’s worse is that both games were at home.

There goes A.J. Brown! #Titans@Brown1arthur makes his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year with a 49-yard rushing touchdown! #NOvsTEN

📺: FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/csMF3GLW6Z pic.twitter.com/GFfLq8GCNF

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2019

The good news is that it seems like the Texans might rest starters on Sunday. It’s still up in the air but at best, they’ll have very little to play for. Tennessee might end up facing a Texans team that won’t be going full bore and might be keeping key players on the sidelines.

Will the Texans Rest Starters?

We’ve reached the weekend but we still don’t exactly know what the Texans plan to do with their starters. The Texans’ best-case scenario on Sunday is that they move up to the No. 3 seed and the worst-case scenario is they’re the No. 4 seed. They’re basically in the same shoes either way.

For the Texans to climb to the No. 3 seed, they would need to not only win but also see the Kansas City Chiefs lose. The Chiefs are a nine-point home favorite over the Los Angeles Chargers, who have lost five of six and appear to be on the verge of firing head coach Anthony Lynn. The Texans’ chances at the No. 3 seed seem marginal – at best.

.@deshaunwatson hugs Hannah, Vivian and Janice McNair after the #Texans big win. pic.twitter.com/IG3leLHgmX

— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) December 21, 2019

The other factor here is that the Chiefs play early in the day while the Texans have a 4:25pm ET start. That means the Texans will know their chances by the time they kick off. Barring a big surprise, it’s likely the Chiefs secure the No. 3 seed and the Texans don’t have a lot to play for by the time the afternoon games roll around.

What’s the Best Bet?

The Titans held out Derrick Henry in Week 16 in hopes of having their hammer come in a bit healthier for their must-win situation in Week 17. He’s third in the NFL in rushing yards and the team is 5-0 this season when he rushes for 100 yards or more.

Texans fans: “We’re not even playing our starters Sunday. Ya’ll are going to the playoffs by beating scrubs”

Titans fans:pic.twitter.com/psZIanA3b4

— Two Tone Fanatics (@twotonefanatics) December 28, 2019

While Texans head coach Bill O’Brien says that the Texans are playing to win here, keep in mind that they’re probably not going to have much to play for and are already banged up a bit. Wideout Will Fuller is out and star receiver DeAndre Hopkins has an illness and did not practice on Friday. Why risk it?

Considering they’re hosting a playoff game next week either way, it probably makes more sense to rest up and get everyone fresh for the game that means something. I’d back the Titans in this spot.