Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs odds, picks and best bets
The Houston Texans travel to meet the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the first game of the 2020 NFL season. Kickoff is set for Thursday at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Below, we preview the Texans-Chiefs Week 1 betting odds and lines, with our NFL picks and best bets.
Texans at Chiefs betting odds and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 10:50 a.m.
- Moneyline : Chiefs -455 | Texans +350
- Against the Spread/ATS : Chiefs -9 (-110) | Texans +9 (-110)
- Over/Under : 54.5 (O: -110, U: -110)
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Texans at Chiefs game notes
- The Texans fired out to a 24-0 lead in the AFC Divisional Playoffs Jan. 12, 2020 at Arrowhead. They were outscored 51-7 from there, ending their 2019 season in the very place the 2020 campaign begins Thursday.
- The Texans play their first game without WR DeAndre Hopkins, who was traded to Arizona. RB David Johnson was the big player coming back to Houston, and he hopes to resurrect his career after being limited to just 30 games (26 starts) over the past three seasons.
- The Chiefs went 12-4 last season, while going 10-5-1 against the spread (ATS), with eight Over results and eight Unders.
- The Texans managed a 10-6 record, winning the AFC South Division title. They ended up 7-8-1 ATS, with seven Overs and nine Unders.
- Reigning Super Bowl MVP QB Patrick Mahomes threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns with 53 rushing yards in the most recent meeting vs. Houston.
Texans at Chiefs key injuries
Texans
- WR Brandin Cooks (quadriceps) questionable
- DE Jonathan Greenard (ankle) questionable
Chiefs
- TE Travis Kelce (knee) probable
- RB Darrel Williams (hamstring) probable
Texans at Chiefs: Odds, betting lines, picks and prediction
Prediction
Chiefs 34, Texans 17
Moneyline ( ?)
The Chiefs (-455) are overwhelming favorites in this one, but betting moneylines like this in NFL play is risky business, perhaps riskier than any other sport. Very rarely do I bet moneylines in the NFL, unless the spread is two or fewer points and the number is -150 or lower.
AVOID.
Chiefs Wire:4 Chiefs players to watch in Week 1 vs. Texans
Against the Spread ( ?)
The CHIEFS -9 (-110) will not have their usual full house and loud crowd for the home opener, but they will allow up to 16,000 fans at Arrowhead. So there will be a home-field advantage.
The Texans (+9, -110) still have QB Deshaun Watson under center, but they traded away one of the best receivers in the NFL, and the offense didn't have a ton of offseason time to jell. Look for a slow start offensively.
Texans Wire:Houston Texans' Super Bowl odds are worse in 2020 than they were same time in 2019
Over/Under ( ?)
UNDER 54.5 (-110) is not something you want to make a habit betting when the Chiefs are involved, as Mahomes and company can light up the scoreboard, but as mentioned, the Texans will struggle offensively during the early going, as there are some new faces in key places.
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