Jul 27, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL preseason is upon us, and the Houston Texans are set to square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET, with the game broadcast on NFL Network.
The oddsmakers have tabbed the Texans as slight 2.5-point road favorites, with the total set at a modest 37.5 points. 2023 rookie sensation CJ Stroud will be seeing snaps for Houston, while Justin Fields makes his Pittsburgh debut for the black and yellow.
Let’s dive into the Texans vs Steelers odds and provide our predictions for Friday night’s preseason clash.
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans | -2.5 (-110) | -140 | Over 37.5 (-110) |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | -2.5 (-110) | +120 | Under 37.5 (-110) |
>Odds as of August 8, 2024
The Texans are favored by 2.5 points, indicating they have a 58.3% implied probability of winning this exhibition tilt. However, the betting line originally opened with Pittsburgh favored by three points.
Odds as of August 8, 2024 at Bet365 Sportsbook. Check out the available bet365 bonus for Texans vs Steelers.
The Texans are favored after a promising 10-7 campaign in 2023 that ended in the Divisional Round. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has been one of the most consistent organizations in the NFL. Oddsmakers are pricing them as underdogs with uncertainty around their quarterback situation.
The 36-point total suggests a low-scoring affair, which isn’t uncommon in the preseason as teams often rest starters. However, the over has hit in five of the Steelers’ last six games overall.
Houston Texans Betting Analysis
The Texans are expected to give their starters some run in this contest, providing us a glimpse of their new-look offense. All eyes will be on the budding connection between second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud and newly-acquired wideout Stefon Diggs.
Stroud, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, will look to build on a promising debut season where he threw for over 4,100 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Ohio State product has been focusing on timing and communication with Diggs, a perennial Pro Bowler who arrived via trade from Buffalo.
One of the explosive plays from CJ Stroud to Stefon Diggs today pic.twitter.com/Fe7u7ckh4W
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) August 5, 2024
Houston will also unveil their new backfield tandem of Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce. Mixon, a former Bengal, eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards last season and gives the Texans a versatile weapon out of the backfield.
Defensively, Houston will be without cornerback C.J. Henderson, who’s sidelined until October with a foot injury. However, they still boast the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year in linebacker Will Anderson, a pass-rushing dynamo out of Alabama.
If the Texans can establish rhythm early with their starters and generate pressure on Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks, they have a good shot at nabbing their first preseason victory.
Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Analysis
Pittsburgh heads into 2024 with uncertainty under center after moving on from last year’s starter Kenny Pickett. The Steelers brought in veteran Russell Wilson and acquired former Bears starter Justin Fields to compete for the job.
Fields will get the nod in this one as Wilson continues to recover from a calf injury that’s limited him in camp. The third-year pro out of Ohio State will be eager to prove he’s the man for the job in Pittsburgh after an up-and-down tenure in Chicago.
Fields will be throwing to a receiving corps led by George Pickens, who’s coming off an 1,140-yard season. Free-agent addition Van Jefferson will also be one to watch as he looks to carve out a role.
George Pickens is only an 83 overall in Madden this year.
Actual robbery.
Do better EA…
— PickensBurgh🫡 (Tino) (@PickensBurgh) July 29, 2024
In the backfield, the Steelers will likely lean on Jaylen Warren and Anthony McFarland Jr., with top back Najee Harris expected to see limited action. Warren impressed as a rookie last year, rushing for nearly 800 yards while adding 61 catches.
The strength of this Steelers team figures to be on defense, even with T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick and others sitting this one out. Keep an eye on rookie defensive end Nick Herbig, a fourth-rounder out of Wisconsin who’s been turning heads in camp.
If Fields can get into a rhythm early and the defense generates some turnovers, the Steelers could spring the upset and come out on top.
Texans vs Steelers Prediction
In a battle of rising young quarterbacks, I’m backing C.J. Stroud and the Texans to cover as road favorites. The presence of established weapons like Diggs and Mixon gives Stroud an advantage over Fields, who’s still settling into a new system in Pittsburgh.
While the NFL preseason is unpredictable, Houston dominated Pittsburgh in the two team’s only recent meeting (2023), winning 30-6. While technically the Texans lost the weather-canceled NFL Hall of Fame Game, Stroud and the starters weren’t in for that one.
I also lean toward the over, as both teams have the offensive talent to put points on the board, even in a preseason setting. Don’t be surprised if this one turns into a shootout, with the Texans ultimately prevailing in a back-and-forth affair.
Friday NFL Preseason Picks:
- Texans -2.5 (-110)
- Texans ML (-140)
- Over 37.5 (-110)
Brady is the lead NHL and College Football editor at Sports Betting Dime, where he specializes in betting odds and data-driven analysis. Brady has over 10 years experience working in sports media, with work published by outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports.
The NFL preseason is officially underway, and football fans are eager to see how their favorite teams will perform in the upcoming season. One highly anticipated matchup in Week 1 of the preseason is between the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Houston Texans are coming off a disappointing 4-12 season in 2020, but they have made some key changes in the offseason that could help turn things around. The Texans have a new head coach in David Culley, who will be looking to make his mark on the team in his first season at the helm. They also made some significant additions in free agency, including signing veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor and drafting quarterback Davis Mills in the third round of the NFL Draft.
On the other side of the field, the Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a successful 12-4 season in 2020, but they fell short in the playoffs with a loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers have a strong defense led by stars like T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, but they will be looking to improve on offense after struggling down the stretch last season.
When it comes to predicting the outcome of this preseason matchup, it’s important to keep in mind that preseason games are often unpredictable. Coaches use these games to evaluate their rosters and give playing time to younger players trying to make the team. This means that starters may not play as much or as aggressively as they would in a regular-season game.
That being said, the Steelers are typically a strong preseason team, with a 38-25 record in preseason games under head coach Mike Tomlin. The Texans, on the other hand, have struggled in recent preseasons, going 5-11 over the past four years.
In terms of odds, sportsbooks have the Steelers listed as favorites in this matchup, with an early line of -3.5 points. This means that if you bet on the Steelers to win, they would need to win by at least 4 points for you to win your bet. The over/under for total points scored in the game is set at 35.5 points.
Ultimately, preseason games are often more about evaluating talent and building chemistry than winning or losing. While it’s always exciting to see your favorite team come out on top, the most important thing is that players stay healthy and get valuable reps before the regular season kicks off.
So whether you’re rooting for the Texans or the Steelers in this preseason matchup, be sure to tune in and enjoy some football as we gear up for another exciting NFL season.