Indianapolis Colts Vs Houston Texans: Las Vegas Line & Pick Against the Spread

Matt Schaub has led the Houston Texans to mediocrity in the past but this season he and his teammates could be the stars of the AFC South. The journey begins with a key September 12th match up against Colts. This could be the best game on the NFL schedule for Week One and will have season ending implications.

Both teams should be contenders all season for the AFC South Division title and the second place team will most likely play on NFL Wild Card Weekend. The Houston Texans only weakness could be defense but this too has shown strides towards improvement. The Indianapolis Colts defense should be improved over last season also.

Do the Houston Texans Have a Better Passing Attack Than Indianapolis Colts?

Peyton Manning has dominated the AFC South for so long, no sports writer dares to contemplate if the Houston Texans and Matt Schaub can better him. When it comes to quarterback to wide receiver combos this AFC South tilt may feature two of the best. The Houston Texans have the combination of Schaub to Andre Johnson versus the Colts combination of Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne.

The two best wide receivers in the NFL today will not be the deciding factors in the passing game. The tight ends could be the key to this game. Owen Daniels is Schaub's key target but Peyton Manning has the better tight end in Dallas Clark. Another key will be the number two and three receivers. Anthony Gonzalez is a wild card for Manning and Kevin Walters is Schaub's best possession pass catcher. Passing attack edge goes to the Indianapolis Colts over the Houston Texans but it is close.

Running Game is in a State of Flux for Both the Indianapolis Colts & Houston Texans

Remember when Steve Slaton was the greatest banging running back in the AFC South? Those days went by fast and now Arian Foster is the lead back in Houston. Foster is the flavor of the day but how long he will last is another question entirely.

Rushing yardage has not been a major concern for the Indianapolis Colts since the arrival of Peyton Manning. Joseph Addai has emerged as the teams number one running back but he has never been a consistent back in his career. The Houston Texans have a very slight edge in the running game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Defenses of Indianapolis Colts & Houston Texans Could Decide This Game

The Houston Texans motor of last season, rookie linebacker Brian Cushing, was suspended for four games and it will affect their defense in this game and the three games following. Mario Williams is still a key to the defense and he will help to keep pressure on Manning. If Kareem Jackson lives up to expectations on the corner the Houston Texans could have one of the youngest set of corners in the NFL. That may not be the best case scenario for Houston early in the season.

When it comes to defense the Indianapolis Colts defense has always been underrated. If Bob Sanders can stay healthy in the Colts secondary he still has a few years left in him. As Sanders goes so do the Indianapolis Colts. The edge on defense goes to the Houston Texans but it is also close.

Indianapolis Colts -3 vs Houston Texans: Pick and Breakdown

In this corner, potential NFL MVP Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. In the other corner, up and coming NFL star quarterback and also a potential NFL MVP, Matt Schaub. The Las Vegas Hilton Superbook does not believe in the Houston Texans listing them as a 40-1 shot to win the 2011 Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts are listed as the favorite to win the Super Bowl at 7-1.

These odds do not figure in this opening game of the NFL season. The Colts are traveling to the Houston Texans stadium and this game could be the start of great rivalry. Whenever a game comes across like this it is important to always take the home underdog. Take the Houston Texans to cover the +3 points and win the game straight up. The money line bet is +135 on Houston. Take this bet also.

sources:

Las Vegas Hilton Superbook NFL Week One Lines
www.lasvegasinsideinfo.com
www.profootballtalk.com
www.nfl.com