While it may not be considered among the “marquee” NFL betting matchups in Week 9, Sunday afternoon’s game between the Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins carries plenty of intriguing storylines. From the trade rumors that proved to be false to the race for next year’s top draft pick, these two teams have a lot in common. The NFL betting odds list the home side as a modest favorite ahead of this Texans vs Dolphins showdown.
The following Texans vs Dolphins NFL betting preview will give you the current odds, betting trends and picks for the Week 9 matchup, along with a stream link to watch games all season long.
Texans vs Dolphins Week 9 NFL Betting Preview
NFL Regular Season — Week 9
Houston Texans (1-7, 0-4 Away) vs. Miami Dolphins (1-7, 0-3 Home)
Date: Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021
Time: 1 p.m. EST
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, FL
Coverage: Click here for the stream
Houston Texans Preview
Ever since halftime of an eventual Week 2 loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Texans have been an absolute trainwreck. It just so happens that halftime of Week 2 was also the last time we saw veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor in action. Houston placed him on IR with a very mysterious hamstring injury following that game and has proceeded to lose seven straight in the weeks since. Taylor will officially be back under center in Sunday’s NFL betting matchup against Miami. The entire Texans’ offense immediately gets an upgrade compared to what it has done with rookie Davis Mills playing quarterback. Prior to Taylor being pulled in Week 2, Houston was averaging over six yards per play offensively.
Star receiver Brandin Cooks has been the only consistent contributor for the Texans’ offense. Even with Mills under center, Cooks has managed to put up several solid stat lines. This included 83 yards receiving and a touchdown scored in last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Trailing 38-0, the Texans scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to somehow cover the NFL betting spread. It’s unlikely that this week’s contest gets that far out of hand. It has been a struggle for the Houston defense this season as well, particularly when it comes to stopping the run. The Texans have displayed a bit of a pass rush at times though and could put pressure on a very poor Dolphins offensive line on Sunday.
Miami Dolphins Preview
Like Houston, the Dolphins have also dropped seven straight on the scoreboard after starting the year 1-0. The last three defeats have been particularly bitter to swallow for Brian Flores’ team. After losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons by a combined margin of just five points, the Dolphins played the current NFL betting Super Bowl favorite Buffalo Bills very tough on the road last week. If not for a botched snap before halftime, that game could have turned out very differently. This week sets up as a big one for second-year QB Tua Tagovailoa. After hearing nonstop rumors that he might be traded to the Texans for Deshaun Watson, Miami wound up sticking with their high draft pick. Tagovailoa should have a hefty chip on his shoulder on Sunday.
One struggle for Tagovailoa and the Dolphins’ entire offense this season has been overcoming injuries. In addition to missing a string of games himself, the cast of weapons around Tagovailoa has been changing seemingly every week. After leading Miami with 85 yards on eight receptions last weekend, DeVante Parker has landed on IR with a hamstring injury. That leaves rookie Jaylen Waddle and TE Mike Gesicki to serve as the top targets. The Dolphins might also opt to lean on their ground game given Houston’s inability to stop the run. Both Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed could factor into Sunday’s game plan heavily. As the number of turnovers forced has declined this season compared to a year ago, so too has Miami’s own defensive numbers. The Dolphins rank just 26th in adjusted defensive efficiency entering this NFL betting matchup.
Texans vs Dolphins Odds and Spread
NFL betting odds for Texans vs Dolphins are taken from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Moneyline: HOU: (+190) | MIA: (-225)
Spread: HOU: +5.5 (-110) | MIA: -5.5 (-110)
Total: 46.5 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)
Public (Spread) Betting Percentages via Action Network: HOU: (55%) | MIA: (45%)
Texans vs Dolphins NFL Betting Trends
- Texans are 0-7 straight up in their last seven games.
- Four of the Texans’ last six games have gone under the total.
- Dolphins are 0-4-1 ATS in their last five games.
- Dolphins are 0-7 straight up in their last seven games.
- Texans are 4-1 ATS in their last five head-to-head matchups against the Dolphins.
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Texans vs Dolphins Stats
- Houston is averaging 14.9 points per game (PPG) this season (No. 32 in the NFL).
- Houston is surrendering 30.1 PPG this season (No. 31 in the NFL).
- Miami is averaging 17.2 PPG this season (No. 28 in the NFL).
- Miami is surrendering 29.1 PPG this season (No. 29 in the NFL).
Texans vs Dolphins Prediction
The Texans vs Dolphins NFL betting prediction uses the ESPN Football Power Index.
Texans: 25.7%
Dolphins: 74.1%
Tie: 0.2%
