Game Time: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, October 24th, 2021 

Venue: State Farm Stadium, Phoenix, Arizona

Where to Watch: CBS

Circa:  Point Spread: Cards -18.5  : O/U 47.5

Caesars: Spread:  Cards -18.5; : O/U 47.5

BetMGM:  Spread:  Cards -18.5; : O/U 47.5

Houston Texans: 1-5

Arizona Cardinals: 6-0

Uggghhh.. This is a lopsided matchup.  We have to watch the point spread closely, as the total points is the real bet in this one.  Arizona’s games have been electric while Houston's games have been dull. It feels like a great betting moment… and it is… but the latest spread will be tempting you to fail. Draftkings Sportsbook has Ari as 18.5 point favorites! Arizona’s offense is great but 18.5?!  I would love fewer points on the line, but I have a Range Rover to pay for and can’t possibly bet on Hou.  The Cardinals are on a six-game winning streak and about to face the worst team in the league.  If you want to bet the O/U… you have to remember that the teams COMBINE to get to that 47.5 number.

Matt looks to open Week Seven with a BIG Thursday night winner! He is on a 642-558 +$25,760 NFL run and extends it here with his Thursday Primetime Punisher! These plays are a PERFECT 6-0 YTD! Grab a subscription and get every play Matt is releasing! Come get it!.. Get Matt’s picks; they're  available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.  And look through all the professional handicappers for help with all the NBA, MLB playoffs, NHL and NCAAF action you can handle.

 

 

The Texans are ranked 29th in the NFl on offense.  They score 15.3 ppg (less than the point spread of this game) on 294.3 ypg…. Only the Dolphins, Jets, and Bears are worse on offense… which means the Texans are terrible.

The Cardinals are ranked 7th in the NFL on offense.  They score 32.3 points per game on 403 ypg.  Kyler is running less out of the QB spot… but passing better than he ever has.

Houston’s leading tackler is Christian Kirksey… you don’t know his name because he is the leading tackler for Houston. The Texans are ranked 26th on defense giving up 28.7 ppg (13.5 more than they score… the spread is 18.5) on 391.2 ypg.

The Cardinals are ranked 10th obn defense,  They have given up 18.2 ppg on 342.8 ypg.  They are experiencing a Covid outbreak among the D-line.. The meeting room has been compromised… but they are going to get a few of them back before kickoff.

Our prediction for Sunday, October 24th is… Cardinals 35 - Texans 13

Kyler Murray and Davis Mills may be opponents but they in no way are equals.  Kyler will flirt with a career high in everything in this game based on the Texans defensive Texans stats alone.  I’m going to put big money on a parlay of Arizona AND the Over.  The only thing causing me trepidation is whether the Cardinals lead by sooooo much early that they pull Kyler and spend the 4th quarter playing a time-killing, backup QB running game.  Could this lead to a bad beat… when it all seems so obvious?!!  I’ll have 2 grand riding on a 2 bet parlay.  (4 Range Rover payments lost or lots of Range Rover payments gained)

Don't miss our champion handicappers' Free NFL Picks and Premium Selections every day here at Bigal.com. Just click on Shop Picks for our Best Bets, or click on Shop Subscriptions to join for a week or a month. And if you enjoyed this Texans/Cardinals preview, be sure to bookmark Bigal.com for our daily Game Previews and Predictions.

Houston is 8-16 ATS when the total is 42.5 - 49 PTS the last 3 seasons.

Houston is 5-10 ATS against NFC division West opponents since 1993.

Arizona is 5-1 ATS this season.

Arizona is 10-2 ATS in October games the last 3 seasons.

Arizona is 8-4 ATS against teams with a losing record the last 3 seasons.

Houston: DB Terrence Brooks (chest) Quest * WR Chris Conley (neck) Quest * OL Justin Britt (knee) Quest * WR Danny Amendola (thigh) Quest

Arizona: DE Chandler Jones (Quarantine) Quest * DT Corey Peters (Covid) Quest * Te Zach Ertz (recently acquired) Quest * LB Tanner Vallejo (hand) Quest * DE Zach Allen (covid) Quest

Before you start thinking this could be a Covid game upset… the Arizona players are all vaccinated and only have to pass consecutive covid tests before returning.  Some will play, Corey Peters will not.

Texans: QB Davis Mills (chuckle), RB Mark Ingram II, WR Bradin Cooks, WR Nico Collins, WR Danny Amendola, TE Pharaoh Brown, LT Geron Christian Sr, LG Tytus Howard, C Justin Britt, RG Max Sharping, RT Charlie Heck

Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray (gasp!), RB Chase Edmonds, WR DeAndre Hopkins, WR A.J. Green, Wr Christian Kirk, TE Zach Ertz, LT D.J. Humphries, LG Justin Pugh, C Max Garcia, RG Josh Jones, RT Kelvin Beachum

Cardinals:

Passing Yards: Kyler Murray 1,741

Rushing Yards: Chase Edmonds 316

Receiving Yards: DeAndre Hopkins 367

Tackles: Jordan Hicks 42

Interceptions: Byron Murphy 3

Texans: 

Passing Yards: Davis Mills 912

Rushing Yards: Mark Ingram II 285

Receiving Yards: Brandin Cooks 481

Tackles: Christian Kirksey 43

Interceptions: Justin Reid 2

COACHES

Cardinals: Kliff Kingsbury. Kliff got the job of Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals on January 8th 2019.  He’s young, good looking and he had coached Kyler Murray briefly in college.  He will do great things one day… after he stops looking like the kid who delivers my pizza.

Texans: David Culley.  David has been given the impossible task of coaching the Houston Texans with very few viable NFL players. He didn’t even inherit their All-star QB who is sidelined this year for suspicion of sexual assault.  If he had that QB he would still be coaching a tough team because THAT QB would have been traded by now.  We all hope David is given an opportunity elsewhere when he is fired from this one.

Mostly Sunny.  86* for the high.  Humidity 24%, wind at 6 mph.  It’s the desert, enjoy it. (beware of advertising cookies and occasionally change your login password to gambling sites)... (not applicable in NJ or IA… because nothing ever is).