If I told you before the season that the Tennessee Titans were 0-3, you wouldn’t be surprised. A rebuilding team navigating a rookie quarterback is bound to stumble. However, the Houston Texans’ 0-3 start is a surprise. Despite their top-end talent, the Texans have been unable to find the right equation and now have their backs against the wall. No team has started 0-4 and made the playoffs since 1992, so for all intents and purposes, the losers of this game can start making their January vacation plans.
The Texans are seven-point home favorites for this contest on DraftKings Sportsbook. If you fancy a Titans upset, they’re at +320 on the moneyline. The total for this game is set at 39.5. Let’s dig into my favorite Titans vs. Texans prop bets.
Titans at Texas Best Prop Bets
C.J. Stroud 1+ Interceptions Thrown (+103)
C.J. Stroud’s descent has been the story of Houston’s season. After looking like a stud in his rookie season, he took a step back last year and is finding new lows in year three. No stranger to risky throws, the luck is finally working against him. In his rookie year, Stroud’s 1.0% interception rate led the NFL. In his sophomore year, it jumped to 2.3%. This year, it’s all the way up to 3.4%.
It’s not entirely his fault that he has to force things. Management didn’t upgrade his offensive line, and his receivers — not named Nico Collins — are unable to make plays. With the Texans finding themselves in desperate need of big plays often, one of Stroud’s heaves is bound to find a Titans defender sooner or later.
Elic Ayomanor 40+ Receiving Yards (+163)
The concept of “passing” has not gone well for the Titans so far. Tennessee is dead last in net passing yards on the season. Calvin Ridley’s regression has left an already thin Titans receiving group in dire straits, and Cam Ward is taking his lumps. But it sure looks like they nailed their fourth-round pick, Elic Ayomanor.
It’s not just the tape that’s popping, it’s the targets he demands. The 22-year-old rookie has at least five targets in all three games so far, and he’s dominating at the catch point. Ayomanor is second on the team in total targets behind Ridley, but has turned his targets into more catches than Ridley while catching both of the team’s passing scores.
The Ward-Ayomanor connection isn’t a household name — yet. While our oddsmakers catch up, make sure you get in an Ayomanor slip.
Woody Marks 40+ Rushing Yards (+196)
There was a quiet change for the Texans last week. In their tight loss to the Jaguars, new signee Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks were in a near 50/50 snap split. Chubb took 33 snaps to Marks’ 29, while only out-carrying him nine to six. It’s becoming clear that Marks is going to take control of this backfield sooner than later.
Chubb, at this stage of his career, will get what his blocking gives him. For the Texans, that isn’t much. Woody has shown lots of wiggle between the tackles and can win in a phone booth. As Houston searches for more explosiveness in an effort to resuscitate their season, trust in Mark to have his breakout week.
