The NFL’s top receiver, DeAndre Hopkins (726 yards, 5 TDs), will be on display when the Houston Texans (2-4) meet the Miami Dolphins (2-3). The game will begin Sunday, Oct 25 at 1:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on CBS.
Miami blew out the Titans 38-10 last week. Cameron Wake led the Miami defense in the win, totaling four tackles and four sacks. Lamar Miller had a big game as well, totaling 113 yards and a TD on 19 attempts. Houston managed to get the win as well, beating the Jaguars 31-20. DeAndre Hopkins had a big game for the Texans, totaling 10 catches for 148 yards and two TDs.
Miami is a three-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 43 points.
The Dolphins enter the game with a current record of 2-3 Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS) this season. The Dolphins have a strong running game at home with an average of 5.2 yards per carry in home games, good enough for tops in the league. As for the Miami defense, there are important areas to keep an eye on. Miami will attempt to shut down a subpar passing game. Houston ranks 28th in the league in terms of completion percentage at 57.9%. On special teams, Miami has some playmakers. They average 124.2 return yards per game, the most in the NFL.
As for their opponent, the Texans have 2-4 SU and ATS records this season. When Houston travels away from home, it has achieved success through the air. Its 300 passing yards per game ranks fifth in the NFL. Switching gears to the Houston defense, it has some favorable matchups that it may be able to take advantage of as well. The Texans pass defense makes opponents work for every catch, allowing a completion percentage of 57.7%. The Texans could take advantage of Miami’s reputation as a slow starter on defense. The Dolphins are dead last in the NFL in first-quarter points allowed with an average of eight. Houston tends to run a lot of plays during games, averaging 75.7 offensive snaps per game.
Predictions: SU Winner – Mia, ATS Winner – Hou, O/U – Over
Notes
Miami is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games.
Miami is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Miami’s last 8 games.
Miami is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Miami is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home.
Miami is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Houston.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami’s last 6 games when playing Houston.
Both teams are 1-0 SU when leading at the half this season.
When it comes to passing this year, Houston is rated higher on both sides of the ball. Its fourth-ranked passing attack will face the 12th-ranked pass defense of Miami, while its 13th-ranked pass defense will look to limit the 16th-ranked passing game of the Dolphins.
Miami has allowed 34.0 points per contest at home this year, which ranks it only 31st in the league. Houston has scored 23.0 points per game on the road (ranked 16th overall).
