Lions vs. Texans Betting Odds, Prediction, & Pick
Lions vs. Texans Odds
| Lions Odds | -3.5 |
| Texans Odds | +3.5 |
| Over/Under | 49.5 |
| Date | Sunday, November 10 |
| Time | 8:20 PM ET |
| TV | NBC |
This evening’s Sunday Night Football matchup will feature Jared Goff and the surging Detroit Lions against CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Ahead of kickoff, oddsmakers have priced the Lions as 3.5-point favorites on the spread. The total is set at 49.5 points.
Let’s take a deeper look at the matchup to see where NFL bettors can find value at sportsbooks.
According to Evan Abrams of The Action Network, Sunday Night Football unders are 7-2 this season, 38-17 across the last 3 years, and 71-45-2 since 2019.
Detroit Lions Preview
Decker ruled OUT
Detroit will be without their starting left tackle Taylor Decker on Sunday Night Football, due to a shoulder injury. Decker has been an above-average player at his position this year, per PFF, ranking in the top half of all tackles in pass block grade and run block grade. Dan Skipper is one option to replace Decker. Skipper played only 47 snaps on the offensive line in 2023 and has played only 6 snaps on the offensive line in 2024, making the undrafted product out of Arkansas somewhat of an unknown commodity.
What to expect from Lions defense
Detroit’s defense entered Week 10 ranked 3rd in DVOA, 5th in EPA/play, and 15th in success rate. Though the underlying metrics suggest that the Lions have been less successful on a down-to-down basis this year, this unit has still been good enough to hold their opponents to 20 points or fewer in 6 of their first 8 games.
The biggest question for this group on Sunday will be whether or not they will be able to get pressure on the quarterback. Tonight will mark EDGE Aidan Hutchinson’s 4th consecutive missed contest. Detroit’s defense has ranked 13th or worse in pressure rate in 2 of the 3 games they have since placing Hutchinson on injured reserve.
Houston Texans Preview
Collins activated from injured reserve
Star wide receiver Nico Collins hasn’t played since Week 5 but was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, leaving open the possibility that he could play against the Lions despite only logging one limited practice this week. Collins has the potential to be a game-changer for this Houston offense, which has struggled mightily in his absence.
From Week 6 to Week 9, C.J. Stroud ranked 25th in EPA/play, 30th in success rate, and 33rd in CPOE among qualified quarterbacks. Put another way, this has been one of the league’s worst passing attacks across the last month. The return of a healthy Collins could prove to be a major boon for this group.
Injury update for Houston defense
The good news for Houston fans this week is that LB Azeez Al-Shaair is expected to play in his first game since Week 6. Al-Shaair was the Texans’ second-leading tackler through 6 weeks, ranking 13th out of 79 players at his position in run defense grade.
The bad news for this unit is that EDGE Will Anderson has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Anderson leads Houston with 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2024. According to PFF, Anderson ranks 11th at his position in total pressures this fall, making this a sizable loss for a pass rush that was already struggling to get after opposing quarterbacks.
Lions vs. Texans Prediction
Jared Goff and the Lions have been seemingly invincible in recent seasons from a betting perspective, with an incredible 40-15 ATS (72.7%) record during their last 55 games, per Evan Abrams. That record includes a 21-4 ATS (80.0%) record when listed as a public side.
That being said, there are real reasons that Detroit could be vulnerable tonight. The Lions will once again be without their star EDGE Aidan Hutchinson. They will also be missing their starting left tackle, which could pose potential problems in a hostile road environment. Houston could potentially be getting back WR Nico Collins, but equally important, they will for sure have LB Azeez Al-Shaair back on the field.
Both of these teams have some question marks at key positions heading into this primetime affair. The home underdogs have some value in a game that could go down to the wire.
PICK: Texans +3.5 (-110, DraftKings)
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