The NFL's top two draft picks are on a collision course as the Texans prepare to play the Panthers on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.
Top pick Bryce Young is struggling but showing gradual signs of improvement for Carolina (0-6 SU, 0-5-1 ATS), which is the only winless team in the NFL. No. 2 pick CJ Stroud has guided Houston (3-3 SU, 4-2-0 ATS) to a solid start with nine passing TDs and just one interception on the season.
Let's examine Texans vs. Panthers odds, props, and predictions for a game featuring two of the NFL's most highly touted rookies entering the season.
Texans vs. Panthers odds: Point spread, moneyline, total
Here are the latest live NFL betting odds for Texans vs. Panthers:
After a horrific start for Young and the Panthers, Carolina is a slight home underdog here versus Houston. The Panthers, coming off their bye week, are 0-for-everything in bottom-line metrics that matter.
- 0-6 SU
- 0-5-1 ATS
- 0-5 vs. NFC opponents
- 0-2 vs. NFC South opponents
- 0-1 vs. AFC opponents
The fact that Carolina hasn't covered a single game speaks volumes about its struggles. The Panthers pushed in a 20-17 home loss to the Saints on Monday Night Football earlier this season.
Houston has been one of the league's more pleasant surprises under the direction of Stroud. The Texans are coming off their bye, too, but with much more bounce in their step. Stroud was named NFL Rookie of the Month in September. He's the betting favorite to become NFL Rookie of the Year at odds of .
MORE: NFL Week 7 betting report: Unders, underdogs rule on Sunday
Texans betting news
Houston's got to be feeling good about having Stroud as its franchise QB of the future. The Ohio State product's chance to be the No. 1 pick took a hit when he reportedly scored 18% on the S2 Cognitive Test prior to the draft and Young scored 97%.
There was never any question about his physical talent and superior size compared to to the diminutive Young when projecting both as NFL quarterbacks. Six games is a small sample size, and Young might go on to become the next Tua Tagovailoa, but he's looked lost at times and physically outmatched during his rookie season.
After Houston opened 0-2, Stroud helped the Texans put up 30+ points in back-to-back wins over the Jaguars and Steelers. Houston averages 22.5 points per game this season after finishing with an average of 17 ppg last year. That's some serious progress under a rookie QB.
The Texans dispatched the Saints, 20-13, before their bye week. Houston is 2-0 ATS after winning the previous game this season. While they haven't performed in the role of road favorite yet, the Texans are 4-2 ATS when both teams come in with equal rest as will be the case this weekend.
Panthers betting news
The struggle is real in Carolina. It was wishful thinking to believe that Young could turn around the moribund franchise's fortunes in a single year. But going winless in the first six games heading into the team's bye week? That's brutal especially considering the NFC South is the weakest division in pro football.
To be clear, you can't lay this all at Young's feet. The Panthers didn't add any difference makers at the WR position after they traded D.J. Moore to the Bears (along with a heap of draft picks).
The biggest offseason acquisition came in RB Miles Sanders, who hasn't resembled the player he was during Philadelphia's Super Bowl run last year. Sanders missed the Week 6 loss to Miami with a shoulder injury, and he's expected to be sidelined against the Texans on Sunday.
But back to Young for a moment. Questions about his size and stature (5-foot-10, 200 pounds) dogged him leading up to the draft and continued into Carolina's training camp. They've only intensified after Young's tossed just six TDs and four picks on the season.
He's also been sacked 16 times in five games after missing one contest due to injury (ankle), and durability could be a concern moving forward. The good news for Young is that his numbers have been improving in recent weeks.
His breakout game came against the Lions in Week 5 when Young had a season-high 247 yards passing and three TDs. He then threw for 200+ yards, a TD, and no picks in the loss to Miami before the bye week.
Baby steps.
Texans vs. Panthers props
Here's a look at select player props for CJ Stroud and Bryce Young for Texans vs. Panthers on Sunday.
Texans vs. Panthers predictions
The Panthers will have only so many chances to win games in Young's rookie season. This is one he's probably had circled due to his counterpart's success relative to his own after Carolina drafted him at No. 1.
We're expecting Carolina to come out focused off the bye week -- and with a solid game plan to get its first victory of the season. Whether that happens or not, we'll see, but consider the dog getting points at home here.
Prediction: Panthers
How to watch Texans vs. Panthers
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 29
- Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Bank of America Stadium -- Charlotte, NC
- Where to Watch: FOX
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