A spot in the NFL playoffs will be on the line when the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans face off in a winner-take-all matchup and you’ll compete in Week 18 on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Texans and Colts enter the game tied at 9-7 and would earn at least one wild card spot if they win. If the Jaguars (also 9-7) lose to the Titans on Sunday, then the Houston vs. Indianapolis winner would also win the AFC South title and set up a playoff game next week. The loser of Saturday’s game will be eliminated from the playoffs.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET. Houston is a 1-point favorite in the latest Texans vs. Colts odds, while the over/under in total points scored is 47.5. Before making any Colts vs. Texans picks or NFL predictions, you should check out the NFL betting tips from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, costs well over $7,000 for $100 players among the NFL’s highest-rated picks since its inception. The model enters Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season on an incredible 181-129 streak on top-rated NFL picks dating back to the 2017 season. He’s also on a 35-21 run among highest-rated picks in the NFL since Week 7 of last season.
The model has also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the last six years on straight NFL picks and has beaten more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick’em players four times during that span. Anyone who followed him is at the top.
Now the model has focused on the Texans vs. Colts and has just revealed its picks and predictions. You can see the model’s choices only on SportsLine. Here are several NFL odds and betting lines for the Colts vs. Texans:
- Texans vs. Colts gap: Houston -1
- Texans vs. Colts plus/minus: 47.5 points
- Money line of the Texans against the Colts: Houston -122, Indianapolis +102
- HOU: QB CJ Stroud ranks fourth in NFL in passing yards per game (274.6)
- IND: LB Zaire Franklin leads the league in tackles (170)
- Texans vs. Colts Picks: See the picks here
- Live stream Texans vs. Colts: fubo (try free)
Why the Texans can cover
Quarterback CJ Stroud had a sensational rookie season. The No. 2 pick in April’s NFL draft ranks fourth in the league in passing yards per game (274.6). His 3,844 passing yards this season are the fifth-most passing yards by a rookie quarterback in NFL history, behind Andrew Luck, Justin Herbert, Cam Newton and Jameis Winston.
Stroud and the rest of the Houston offense face an Indianapolis defense that has struggled to keep teams out of the end zone this season. The Colts are giving up 24.5 points per game, which ranks them 27th in the league, ahead of only the Giants, Eagles, Panthers, Cardinals and Commanders. Find out which team to choose here.
Why the Colts can cover
Indianapolis has a pass rush to put pressure on Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. The Colts rank fifth in the league in sacks (49) this season. They are the only team in the NFL with four players with at least seven sacks: Samson Ebukam (9.5), Kwity Paye (8.5), Dayo Odeyingbo (eight) and DeForest Buckner (seven).
Plus, Indianapolis comes into the game knowing it has already beaten Houston this season. In Week 2, the Colts totaled 126 yards on 23 carries (5.5 yards per carry) and sacked Stroud six times during a 31-20 victory at Houston. Indianapolis led 31-10 early in the fourth quarter. Find out which team to choose here.
How to make Texans vs. Colts picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under the point total, predicting a total of 47 points. The model also indicates that one side of the gap occurs in more than 50% of simulations. You can see the model’s NFL picks and analysis only on SportsLine.
So who wins the Colts against the Texans on Saturday, and which side of the spread reaches more than 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Texans vs. Colts spread you should jump to, all from the advanced model on a 181-129 throw on NFL picks, and find out.
