NFL Betting – One Last Stop As Texans Prepare For AFC Rise

It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll, just ask Houston Texans’ head coach Gary Kubiak, who finally guided his team over the .500 hump to a nine-win season a year ago. Kubiak feels his team is finally ready to make a legitimate run at an AFC playoff spot after falling just short a year ago, a long road that continues this Thursday night when Houston welcomes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to town for their final game of the preseason. 

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Houston Texans
Thursday September 2, 2010 – 8:00 PM ET
Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
Broadcast: KTRK
NFL Betting Odds: Buccaneers +2.5, Texans -2.5
Total: 36.5 

After years of contending in the NFC South with their trademark Tampa-2 defense and a formidable offense, the Buccaneers have hit a snag in the lining that led to their lowest win total of the decade a year ago. While a few key pieces remain from the 2007 and 2008 teams that won nine games, Tampa Bay simply did not have enough talent a year ago to compete in the same division as the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. The Buccaneers continue to search for the right pieces to get back in to contention in the crowded NFC South, but may be at least another year away from being considered a legitimate threat. Just as the Texans learned before breaking through last season, these things can take time. 

NFL Betting: What The Buccaneers Will Have To Do To Win 

Tampa Bay will be without starting quarterback Josh Freeman for their final contest of exhibition play after he suffered a fractured right thumb that was luckily nothing worse. Without Freeman, Josh Johnson will get the call again for the Buccaneers, looking to enforce the solid performance he put on against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 19-13 loss the previous weekend. Tampa Bay has shown signs of progress despite losing two of their three games this preseason, but will need an incredible effort to have a shot at scoring a .500 record. 

NFL Betting: What The Texans Will Have To Do To Win 

After losing two of the first three games of the preseason on the road, the Texans bounced back with a 23-7 statement win at home over the Dallas Cowboys, and could finish .500 by sweeping both home preseason games with a win this weekend. There is not much left to determine on a roster ready to compete for a playoff spot in the AFC this season, although tight end Owen Daniels could see some action after returning from the PUP list. Steve Slaton will likely sit with a strained toe, but a quality effort from the reserves should net Houston a home win.

NFL Betting: Outlook & Pick 

The Texans will open the regular season with a huge divisional home game against the Indianapolis Colts. However, even if Houston is caught looking ahead to the following week, they should still get by a weaker Buccaneers team. 

NFL Betting Game Predictions: Texans