Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears 8/1/24 – The Houston Texans (10-7 last season) travel to face the Chicago Bears (7-10 last season) in an exciting NFL Hall of Fame matchup, showcasing two teams eager to kick off the new season with a win. As we dive into the NFL Hall of Fame free picks today, let’s break down the essentials of this game set to unfold at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on a prime Thursday night slot.
Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears 8/1/24
| When: | Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 8:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium |
| TV: | ABC |
| Stream: | NFL+/ SofaScore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | +5.5 (-101) | 40 over (+128) | +105 |  |
| Bears | -5.5 (-122) | 40 under (-159) | -125 | |
| ||||
You ready for some Texans football on Thursday? 🫵 pic.twitter.com/ONYLIMpsom
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 30, 2024
The betting lines favor the Chicago Bears at home with a -5.5 point spread and a slightly more aggressive moneyline at -125, reflecting their strong performance at home last season. On the flip side, the Texans, despite a solid record last season, find themselves as underdogs, which could spell value for bettors considering their recent performances on the road.
C.J. Stroud QB vs. Tyson Bagen QB
C.J. Stroud was very successful last year with 4,101 passing yardage, a 63.9% completion rate, and 23/5 TD-INT ratio. Given he is very capable of managing games and at the same time avoiding wrong decisions which could cost the team dearly, Houston has a sure bet in him. The matchup this coming game will be a decisive one for Stroud, given what Bears defense has proven to be susceptible to: strong passers.
Tyson Bagen is less experienced since he played only 5 games in the previous season, but he displayed his abilities and finished 65.7% of passes. However, his challenge will be on increasing the touchdown to interceptions ratio whereby he has thrown more of the latter (6) compared to the former (3). The next game will show whether Bagen has developed and whether he will be able to stand the pressure from the Texans’ side of the field.
Houston’s Ground and Air Attack: Stroud at the Helm
Houston tries to establish the arm of C.J. Stroud and legs of Dameon Pierce on the field as main assets of their offense. In the previous season, Pierce was able to scramble for 416 yards on 145 carries; clearly, help is required rushing the football. Though, his resolve on the field can be relevant in ensuring balance of the offense and placing Stroud in a position where he could excel in play-action passes. In the receiving corps, Nico Collins is an optimal option whereby he registered 1,299 receiving yards in the previous year of play. His skills in generating large gains will prove useful in the Texans’ passing game, and facing Chicago’s defense may be that thing which will work in Houston’s favor.
Chicago’s Response on the Ground and Through the Air
For the Bears’ offense, there will be a lot of touches for running back Khalil Herbert and receiver DJ Moore. His new runner, Herbert, who gained 602 yards on the ground in the last season, also has a secure ground game that can set the pace of the match. This will be important in easing pressure that usually is on Bagen and thereby providing the young QB with the comfort while making play selections. DJ Moore, who recorded 1,364 yards receiving in the previous campaign, remains the conductor spearheading charges on the field for Chicago from the aerial front. This will be vital as the Bears seek to take advantage of the Texans who have at times struggled defensively especially when deep receiving threats are the targets.
Trends
Houston Texans Betting Trends
Houston are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games.
Texans are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games.
Houston are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games on the road.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston’s last 6 games against an opponent in the National Football Conference conference.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston’s last 6 games played in August.
Chicago Bears Betting Trends
Chicago are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago’s last 10 games.
Chicago are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games.
Chicago are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Chicago’s last 14 games against an opponent in the American Football Conference conference.
Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears Betting Picks
Considering the strong defensive trends and the historical performance of both teams, especially in preseason settings where defenses often outpace offenses, the under on the total points seems a prudent pick. Both teams have shown tendencies to engage in lower-scoring games against conference opponents, making the under 40 an attractive option at -159.
In terms of choosing a side, the Chicago Bears, with their robust home record and the advantage in the quarterback matchup due to Bagen’s potential for growth, might just edge out the Texans, especially with the home crowd behind them. For those looking at online top betting sites, Chicago to cover the -5.5 spread could be the way to go, given their historical performance and preseason readiness.
Score Prediction: Bears 24, Texans 17.
