NFL Live Betting: Texans-49ers Matchup a Super Bowl Preview?
by: Bovada Sportsbook Staff | Oct. 4, 2013
The NFL’s Sunday night games this season have won the night in terms of US television ratings as well as in terms of the most-wagered game at Bovada in each week. Last Sunday’s Patriots-Falcons game was a matchup of two 2012 division winners and took the most action of any game through the first four weeks. Could this Sunday’s Texans-49ers game, also featuring two reigning division winners, top it? San Francisco opened as a 7-point favorite over Houston with a total of 42. There will be Live Betting.
It appears thus far that no team will be able to beat rampaging Denver in the AFC this year, but Houston has the talent to win the conference title. Last year the Texans looked like the NFL’s best team through 13 weeks at 11-1 but lost three of four down the stretch and were routed in New England in the divisional playoffs.
The Texans started this year 2-0 but were blown out in Week 3 in Baltimore. Houston coughed up what would been an impressive Week 4 victory over visiting Seattle, the NFC title favorite. The Texans led 20-6 midway through the fourth quarter, but Richard Sherman tied the game at 20-20 by returning a Matt Schaub pass 58 yards for a touchdown with 2:40 left. Seattle won 23-20 in overtime. The Seahawks had been 0-105 previously when trailing by 14 points in the fourth quarter of a game.
The concern with Houston is whether Schaub is truly a big-game quarterback. He has thrown an interception eight times as a Texan with three minutes or less remaining in the fourth quarter of a game and Houston is 0-8 in those. Six have been decided by a touchdown or less. Schaub has thrown an interception returned for a score in three-straight games now – no QB has done it four straight in at least the past 20 years. Schaub has thrown an interception in seven-straight games dating to last season (including playoffs). Coach Gary Kubiak said he supported Schaub after Sunday’s loss and the quarterback spoke at a players-only meeting Monday.
Schaub otherwise had good numbers against one of the NFL’s best defenses, throwing for 355 yards and two scores. Arian Foster ran for 102 yards and Andre Johnson caught nine passes for 110 yards. Houston outgained Seattle 476-270. The Texans are now 28/1 to win the Super Bowl and 12/1 to win the NFC.
San Francisco had a few extra days to prepare, having routed St. Louis 35-11 in the Week 4 Thursday night game. The Niners had lost two straight entering that one and QB Colin Kaepernick looked lost with no touchdowns and four interceptions. Against St. Louis he wasn’t picked off and threw two TD passes. Frank Gore rushed for 153 yards and a TD on 20 carries. The 49ers defense held the Rams to 188 total yards, including a scant 18 rushing on 19 carries. The Niners are 12/1 to win the Super Bowl and 11/2 to win the NFC for the second-straight year.
Houston and San Francisco let met in 2009, with the host Texans winning 24-21 behind 264 yards and two TDs from Schaub. Niners coach Jim Harbaugh and Kaepernick were at Stanford and Nevada, respectively, back then. Sunday’s game has such a low total because Houston is No. 2 in total defense and San Francisco No. 5. The Texans are No. 1 against the pass and Niners No. 3. Houston has failed to cover its past five road games and has lost four of them (including playoffs).
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