The Houston Texans visit the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Here’s our Texans Lions Bet Tips.
All odds and lines from PointsBet, current as Tuesday at 8 a.m. ET.
Houston Texans (3-7) at Detroit Lions (4-6)
Texans Lions Bet Tips
Texans Lions Odds and Betting Lines
- Against The Spread: Texans -2.5 (-115)/Lions +2.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: Texans (-145)/Lions (+125)
- Total: 51.5 — Over 51.5 (-110)/Under 51.5 (-110)
- Implied Team Totals: Texans 27, Lions 24.5
The Texans are 2-1 in their past three games and are coming off of a Week 11 win over the Patriots. Houston will attempt to win their fourth game this season in the Thanksgiving leadoff contest at the Lions. The Lions are 1-2 in their past three games, coming off a shut-out loss to forget last week at the Panthers.
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Texans Lions Injury Report
Texans
- P Bryan Anger (quad), Questionable
- WR Kenny Stills (quad), Questionable
- WR Randall Cobb (toe), Doubtful
- OL Laremy Tunsil (illness), Questionable
- RB David Johnson (concussion), Out
Lions
- QB Matthew Stafford (thumb), Questionable
- LB Reggie Ragland (ankle), Questionable
- LB Jarrad Davis (knee), Questionable
- TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), Questionable
- RB D’Andre Swift (concussion), Questionable
- WR Kenny Golladay (hip), Questionable
- WR Danny Amendola (hip), Questionable
Texans Lions Players to Watch
Lions RB D’Andre Swift is questionable to play on Thanksgiving as he remains in the league’s concussion protocol. Missing last week’s loss to the Panthers and playing on a short week, there is a good chance Swift will be sidelined in consecutive games.
With Swift likely out, Adrian Peterson and Kerryon Johnson are once again in line to handle the running back duties for the Lions. Duties, they struggled to fulfill against Carolina. While the Panthers were a terrific matchup for opposing running backs, the Lions could not get their ground attack going sans Swift.
Peterson and Johnson combined for 35 yards on 13 carries while adding another 21 yards on two receptions on five targets as receivers. Johnson carried the ball six times for 17 yards and drew all five running back targets while accumulating the aforementioned 2/21/0 stat line. Peterson got the rest of the work.
Now, the Lions’ rushers left standing will get another soft matchup that they will attempt to exploit. The Texans are yielding 159.3 rushing yards per game, the most in the league. Houston is also giving up the third-most touchdowns to enemy backs (12).
With Texans RB David Johnson (concussion) on the injured reserve list, Duke Johnson is slated to start his second straight game. However, similar to the Lions without D’Andre Swift, the Texans’ rushing attack has been a non-factor with their regular starter sidelined.
In the past two games without David Johnson, Duke Johnson has managed fewer than 15 touches and 54 total yards without a touchdown. The only other back on the Texans to log a touch was C.J. Prosise, who did not fare any better. Prosise had fewer than five touches and 12 total yards in the two games since Week 10.
Johnson and Prosise will look to turn around their recent misfortunes in an outstanding matchup with the Lions, whose defense has been gashed by the run just as much as Houston’s has.
The Lions are surrendering 139 rushing yards per game, good for third-most in the NFL. They’ve also let up a league-high 14 touchdowns on the ground.
Texans Lions Weather Report
The weather at Ford Field does not apply because it is a dome.
Texans Lions Bet Tips
BEST BET: Under 51.5 (-110)
Both the Texans and Lions are entering the Thanksgiving kickoff game banged up, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Both teams are expected to be without their starting running back: Houston’s David Johnson and Detroit’s D’Andre Swift.
On top of that, the Lions could also be down Danny Amendola (hip) and Kenny Golladay (hip) again, we see how they fared in last week’s shut out loss down two starting wideouts and their stud rookie back.
Things are not much better on Houston’s end either, Randall Cobb (toe) is doubtful to play while Laremy Tunsil (illness) and Kenny Stills (quad) are both questionable. Offense could be hard to come by on either end despite both teams employing upside quarterbacks.
While the Over is 10-1 in Detroit’s last 11 games at home, this 51.5 point total is a massive number for a pair of banged-up teams.
The Under is 3-1 in the Texans’ past four games and 1-3 in Detroit’s last four. However, both Houston and Detroit’s games went under last week.
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CONSIDER: Texans -2.5 (-115)
While the Texans are 3-7, they are a better team than their record suggests. They are also slightly healthier and hands-down, employ the better quarterback.
The Texans are 2-3 against the spread (ATS) in their past five games but have covered in two straight.
The Lions are also 2-3 ATS in their past five, but 1-3 in their past four.
The Lions are 6-14 ATS in their past 20 games dating back to 2019.
All but one of Houston’s games this season have been decided by 3+ points.
CONSIDER: Texans (-145)
If you think this game will be decided by fewer than three points, and you think Houston will win as I do, then the Texans moneyline is the play over the spread at slightly lesser odds.
With a (-30) difference, it might be wise to protect your wager with an outright bet in lieu of the point spread.
Matthew Stafford is 0-2 in his career facing the Texans in games played in 2016 and 2012, for what that is worth.
Houston is 3-0 in its past three games against the Lions, and 1-0 in Detroit.
Anthony Cervino is 24-27-1 on his NFL Best Bets in 2020.
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