NFL Lines and Week 17 Odds - Patriots at Texans Predictions

The Houston Texans will be hosting the New England Patriots on Sunday in a NFL betting game that actually means something for Houston. The Texans do need some help in NFL predictions to make the playoffs but at least they have a chance if they beat New England in week 17 NFL lines. The Patriots on the other hand have already clinched the AFC East and will probably rest most of their starters in this game. That is one reason why the Texans are 7-point favorites at home in NFL odds for week 17 at online sportsbooks.

The Texans have won their last three games in NFL predictions to at least give themselves a chance to make the playoffs. They need to beat New England and have two teams from the group of Baltimore, Denver and the Jets lose. The problem for the Texans is that all three of those teams have what look to be very winnable games, but in the NFL you never can tell. Houston can’t worry about the other games though. They have to beat New England in week 17 NFL lines first. "We're going to have to beat the top franchise in football to get to that point," Houston head coach Gary Kubiak said. "So it's a great challenge for us as coaches, as players, and I think that's the way it's supposed to be. If we want to get there some day, these are the types of people we've got to be able to compete against."

NFL predictions are expecting Houston quarterback Matt Schaub to have a big day in against a New England defense that might just decide to rest some starters. Schaub has thrown for an NFL-high 4,467 passing yards this season while his top receiver Andre Johnson leads the league with 1,504 receiving yards. Johnson made the Pro Bowl while Schaub was cheated out of a spot that went to Tom Brady instead. New England head coach Bill Belichick has not said anything about the playing time for his starters but most people believe that Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and others are not going to play for the entire NFL betting contest.

"I do what's best for our football team," Belichick said. "That's my philosophy." It is possible that some players like defensive linemen Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren won’t play at all in week 17 and it could be that Brady sits as well. "Whoever plays, plays," Belichick said. "Whoever doesn't play, doesn't play." The Patriots are 1-3-1 in NFL predictions for their last 5 games as a road underdog. The Texans are 5-2-1 vs. the NFL odds vs. a team with a winning record. The Under is 5-0-1 in the Patriots last 6 games overall. The Under is 7-1 in the Patriots last 8 road games. The Under is 15-5-1 vs. the NFL lines in the Texans last 21 games overall.

Lanning's NFL Predictions: Houston definitely has something to play for in week 17 NFL odds which could make the young franchise very happy but they are still just 2-4 against the spread for their last six. The Patriots will be resting most of their players and I think the old tough guy Belicheck won't mind if the Texans make it to the playoffs for the first time from a Patriots loss since they have already clinched the AFC East. My NFL prediction for week 17 is to take the Texans at home laying the points to the UNDER. Vegas odds at Caesars sportsbook have the Houston Texans -7 favorites against the New England Patriots with a total of 46.