The Colts and Texans have been division rivals for years
Two of the best young quarterbacks square off against each other in CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson
This will be Richardson’s first start since October 8, 2023
Week 1 of the NFL season is finally here, and we have a tremendous matchup between the Colts and Texans. CJ Stroud and Houston are looking to build on their incredible 2023 campaign.
This season also brings a lot of excitement for Indianapolis. Anthony Richardson is healthy again and will make his first start since October 8, 2023.
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Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Texans | -2.5 (-120) | -152 | Over 48.5 (-115) |
Colts | +2.5 (-102) | +128 | Under 48.5 (-110) |
My Pick: Texans -2.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook
The spread for this key divisional game has floated between 2.5 and 3.5 points, favoring the Texans, and for good reason. Houston returns almost everyone on its roster from a season ago, adding Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon.
It should take Richardson time to adjust to the NFL pace of games. Back the Texans to cover on the road.
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We expect the Texans to handle business against the Colts in Week 1. CJ Stroud is coming off a 4,018-yard season, throwing for 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
There is no question that Stroud has all the offensive weapons to win this division, and we expect that journey to start in this matchup.
The Texans finished 10-7 in 2023, winning the AFC South. They return Stroud and several other weapons on the offensive side of the ball. This is a team to look out for in 2024 to make the playoffs and potentially make a run.
On the offensive side of the ball, Houston has a ton of depth at every position, which is why they have stayed healthy compared to Indianapolis. Wide receiver Nico Collins is coming off a 1,297-yard season in which he scored eight touchdowns and averaged 16.2 yards per catch.
His ability to make defenses miss after the catch is impressive, making it harder for defenses to cover with Tank Dell on the other side.
Dell also had a spectacular season, going for 709 yards with seven touchdowns in 2023. He provides a ton of speed on the outside for Houston, which makes it harder to cover both him and Collins.
Tight end Dalton Schultz is also a key piece for this offense. He provides versatility in the red zone, allowing the Texans to finish out drives.
On paper, the Texans have a far better roster than the Colts, which is why we are backing them in this matchup.
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The Colts are coming off a 9-8 season in which they finished third in the AFC South. For most of the season, Indianapolis was without Richardson, who suffered a season-ending injury. He returns to this Colts team alongside Michael Pittman and Jonathan Taylor.
Richardson threw for 577 yards in four games while holding a completion percentage of 59.5%. This number is relatively low, but Richardson can also pick up yards on his feet.
He rushed for 136 yards on 25 carries, a 5.4 yards per-carry average. His ability to scramble out of the pocket and make off-balance throws separates him from many other quarterbacks.
Running back Jonathan Taylor is coming off a 741-yard season in ten games, but he also suffered injuries in 2024. He found the end zone seven times and is one of the best running backs in the league when healthy.
It’s safe to say that the Colts have suffered many injuries over the past few seasons, which is why we cannot trust them to open the 2024 campaign.
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When: Sunday, September 8 @ 1:00 PM EST
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium
Where to Watch: CBS
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Texans Injuries
Texans DE Will Anderson - Questionable
Colts Injuries
Colts WR Josh Downs - Questionable
Colts K Matt Gay - Questionable
Colts RB Trey Sermon - Questionable
Sunday Night Football Week 1 Picks
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