Texans Given -200 Odds to Win AFC South, Colts Fade to +250 After TNF
- Sportsbooks have improved the Houston Texans status as -200 favorites in the sportsbook’s latest AFC South Division odds
- The Indianapolis Colts are the +250 second betting choice
- The Texans beat the Colts 20-17 on Thursday to claim sole possession of first place in the division
Doesn’t anybody here want to win the AFC South?
Just when you think one team is about to lay claim to status as the team to beat in the AFC South, their chances seem to immediately go south.
In reality, it’s probably the only division in the NFL that any team housed within it could still emerge as the champion.
The Houston Texans once again laid claim to the favorite’s role. Thursday’s 20-17 home-field win over the Indianapolis Colts put the 7-4 Texans one game ahead of the 6-5 Colts.
Sportsbooks also improved Houston’s favored status in the AFC South odds to -200.
2019 AFC South Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Houston Texans | -200 |
| Indianapolis Colts | +250 |
| Tennessee Titans | +800 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +2600 |
Odds taken on November 22
The Texans were AFC South champions in three of the past four seasons.
Texans Made Plays
The return of wide receiver Will Fuller to team with DeAndre Hopkins enabled Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson to take advantage of an injury-riddled Indy secondary. Hopkins caught six balls for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Fuller grabbed seven passes for 140 yards.
What a THROW.
What a CATCH.@Will_Fuller7 | #INDvsHOU pic.twitter.com/iw46ANQw7k— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 22, 2019
On the other side of the ball, the Colts were able to run for 175 yards despite the absence of team rushing leader Marlon Mack as Jonathan Williams gained 104 yards. But QB Jacoby Brissett only passed for 129 yards. Wideout TY Hilton, limited by a calf injury, was held to three catches for 18 yards, while also dropping two key passes on would’ve-been third down conversions.
Who’s In First?
David Bowie’s song Changes wasn’t about the lead in the AFC South, but it would’ve been entirely appropriate if it was.
On July 18, the Colts were odds-on -110 favorites to win the AFC South. But when QB Andrew Luck announced his shock retirement just prior to the start of the season, Indy’s odds skyrocketed to +400.
The Texans knock off the Colts to take sole possession of first place in the AFC South ? pic.twitter.com/7BuJQ37317
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 22, 2019
Houston ascended to status as the chalk to win the division. The Texans held this placement until Oct. 21, the day after they lost 30-23 at Indianapolis.
At that point, the Colts (+130) nipped just in front of the Texans (+140). But then Indy was downed 26-24 by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 2. The next day, Houston was again divisional favorites.
Texans showed up looking like Mortal Kombat.
Colts by 30 pic.twitter.com/o3kybyozbZ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 22, 2019
The oddsmakers maintained their faith in the Texans ever since. Houston has been odds-on favorite to win the AFC South the past three weeks. Even after the Texans were drubbed 41-7 by the Baltimore Ravens last week, they were were still the -110 betting choice.
Who Wants the AFC South?
One thing about the four teams that comprise the AFC South – they are all very consistently inconsistent.
Indy’s longest winning streak is three games. The Colts have never lost more than two in a row. But lately, the Colts have been very unimpressive. They lost to the Steelers and Miami Dolphins and barely edged the woeful Denver Broncos.
With the #Colts loss, the #Raiders slide into the 6 seed in the AFC.
Worth noting for down the line: Oakland beat Indy in Week 4. They have the tiebreaker. Still a lot of football left.
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) November 22, 2019
The 4-6 Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t won more than two in a row but also haven’t lost more than two in a row. The 5-5 Tennessee Titans also show no winning streak or losing skid longer than two games in length.
The Texans have the pedigree as AFC South champs five times since 2011. But like the Jags and Titans, Houston has never won or lost more than two in succession.
With tonight's win, the #Texans improve to 7-4 and MOST LIKELY will have the AFC South tiebreaker over the Colts (6-5).
Since 1990, teams that are 7-4 make the postseason 69% of the time. #WeAreTexans
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) November 22, 2019
Houston is in tough next week, playing host to the 9-1 New England Patriots. But then the Texans finish with the Titans (twice), Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver.
That schedule should offer them the best path to the title.
Pick: Houston Texans (-200).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
