The Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans will both be gunning for a victory on Saturday when they meet at Reliant Stadium.
Cincinnati at Houston
When: 4:30 PM ET, Saturday, January 5, 2013
Where: Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
Oddsmakers currently have the Texans listed as 4½-point favorites versus the Bengals, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.
Prediction: Texans 19, Bengals 17
Cincinnati’s defense has been sensational in the second half of the season, not allowing more than 20 points and limiting six of its last eight opponents to 13 points or fewer. The only defeat in the final eight games came on a last-second field goal to Dallas. The Bengals ranked second in the league with 51 sacks and showed their defensive mettle by winning at Pittsburgh 13-10 in Week 16 to clinch a playoff slot. Cincinnati rested many of its starters in the regular-season finale, but has questions about its running game after 1,000-yard rusher BenJarvus Green-Ellis was held to 15 yards by the Steelers. He is also dealing with a sore hamstring. Second-year quarterback Andy Dalton has tossed only two TD passes in the past three games but, like Schaub, has an elite wideout in A.J. Green, who registered 97 receptions and 11 touchdowns.
The Bengals were a 23-17 winner in their most recent outing at home against the Ravens. They covered the 5-point spread as favorites, while the total score (40) made winners of UNDER bettors.
Team records:
Cincinnati: 10-6 SU, 9-6-1 ATS
Houston: 12-4 SU, 9-7 ATS
Cincinnati most recently:
When playing in January are 2-8
When playing on grass are 7-3
After being outgained are 6-4
When playing outside the division are 7-3
Houston managed a single offensive touchdown the past two games in squandering a pair of chances to sew up a first-round bye. But while many point to the 42-14 beating at New England on Dec. 10 as the start of the Texans’ skid, they have been inconsistent for the past seven weeks, beginning with consecutive overtime wins over Jacksonville and Detroit. Quarterback Matt Schaub has thrown only one TD pass against three interceptions in the past four games. WR Andre Johnson has been the only reliable target in that span, hauling in 38 catches to finish the season with 112 receptions and 1,598 yards. Running back Arian Foster rushed for 1,424 yards and scored a league-high 17 touchdowns. Defensive end J.J. Watt had 20 1/2 sacks to anchor a defense that was the league’s best for much of the season but allowed at least 28 points in four of the last seven games.
In their last action, Houston was a 28-16 loser on the road against the Colts. They failed to cover the 6.5-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (44) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.
Houston most recently:
When playing in January are 3-4
When playing on grass are 8-2
After outgaining opponent are 7-3
When playing outside the division are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
Cincinnati is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Cincinnati’s last 8 games
Cincinnati is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati’s last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston’s last 5 games
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cincinnati
Houston is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games
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