The 7-4 Houston Texans host the 2-8 Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 12. Our Titans vs Texans prediction is that underdog Tennessee will keep the game close enough to stay within the 9-point spread.
Houston needs wins against weaker teams in Week 12 against Tennessee and 13 when they play at Jacksonville. Tennessee is relegated to planning for the future starting with deciding on a quarterback.
Head-to-head, Tennessee leads Houston with a 23-21 record.
Offshore Odds: Houston is a 9-point Favorite
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titans | +9 (-125) | +315 | O 40.5 (-108) |
| Texans | -9 (+105) | -385 | U 40.5 (-112) |
Tennessee’s Defense is Competitive
It’s pure speculation to wonder where Tennessee would be with competent quarterbacking.
Apart from the all-out destruction they suffered against the Lions, they’ve been competitive. Defensively, they’re solid with a promising young secondary. They’re ranked first in the league with the fewest passing yards allowed per game.
This does not put all the blame on Will Levis and Mason Rudolph — Tennessee is fifth in the league for sacks allowed. Still, notable offseason acquisitions Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley have not helped the struggling offense. Ridley has been targeted 74 times this season and has 36 receptions.
Levis is not the answer and it’s clear that first-year head coach Brian Callahan does not want him. Tennessee is one of three quarterback-hungry teams — with the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders — vying for the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The wild card is whether University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders will let his star QB/son Shedeur Sanders go to Tennessee. Or Las Vegas. Or New York.
Houston’s Playoff Position is Safe…Mostly
After back-to-back losses, Houston righted its ship in Week 11’s 34-10 win over the Cowboys. They sit at 7-4, two games ahead of Indianapolis in the division.
But the Colts are not going away. A Houston win over Tennessee and Indianapolis’ likely loss to Detroit would essentially sew up the AFC Central for the Texans.
Despite the dominating final score in Dallas, Houston led 20-10 late in the third quarter when Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy decided against a sure field goal to cut the deficit to a touchdown. Cooper Rush threw a fourth-down incompletion deep in Texans territory.
This game might look like a sure thing for Houston on paper, but it isn’t in reality.
Running back Joe Mixon will see a heavy workload as Houston strives to establish the run and open up the downfield passing game for C.J. Stroud to get the ball to Tank Dell, Nico Collins, Dalton Schultz, and the emerging John Metchie.
Titans vs Texans Prediction: Houston Wins, but Does Not Cover
Nine points is a significant margin, particularly for a Titans team that has played reasonably well defensively.
Houston will win, but Tennessee will keep it within nine points.
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