JEFF ALLEN GAME PREVIEW: HOUSTON at NEW ENGLAND
After just two weeks of play in the NFL, just seven of 32 teams remain unbeaten. Two of these square off in
the Thursday night prime time game on CBS as the Houston Texans travel to Foxboro to meet the New England
Patriots. The Texans are 2-0 courtesy of two workman home wins over Chicago and Kansas City Chiefs. The
Patriots are 2-0 despite the Tom Brady suspension and numerous key injuries. The Pats face a short week and
more adversity this week as QB Jimmy Garoppolo is out indefinite with an AC joint sprain of the shoulder.
The game opened “pick” and 41 and has seen little movement at this writing. There are a few shops that have
Houston -1 an a nickle. There are a few shops dealing a total of 40 1/2. Weather looks to be perfect for the 8:25
PM EST kickoff with a temperature at game time of around 70.
The Texans have parlayed last year’s big second half run to the playoffs with a fast start. Houston is developing
a specific MO with a simple ball possession offense and outstanding big play defense. Big money free agent
acquisition Brock Osweiler has not disappointed. Lamar Miller came over from the Dolphins running hard and
is off a career high 25 carry game against the Chiefs. Deandre Hopkins is pure and simple an elite receiver that
should be mentioned in the same in the same breath with Julio Jones and A.J. Green. The NFL’s No.3 ranked
defense is led by J.J. Watt and is extremely opportunistic.
Many might say that the Patriots are doing it with smoke and mirrors but the reality is that this is the team has the
best coach and the best organization in football. With Tom Brady still out serving his suspension and Garoppolo
hurt, quarterback falls to North Carolina State quarterback Jacoby Brissett who saw extended time in preseason
and played the entire second half in the win over Miami. As of this writing there is no plan to take a quarterback off
the wire and instead the Pats will go with WR Julian Edelman in emergency. Edelman was quarterback at Kent in
the same era as Roethlisberger and Joe Cribbs.
No doubt about it, New England is ripe for the picking. The defense has it’s own share of problems, especially at
linebacker where Rob Ninkovic is suspended and Donta Hightower has a bum knee. The Pats are 28th vs. the
pass and the Texans may look to exploit the back seven. Gronk is still a question mark with hamstring problems.
This is a tough game to guage. Houston on a 12-3 run as a favorite, the Pats are 7-1 L8 as a dog. The Texans are
just 1-5 ATS in their brief history on Thursday night. New England is 12-3 L15 as a home dog of less than three.
For World Champion Handicapper Jeff Allen’s play on this game, check out www.vegasscoresandodds.com any
time after 9:00 AM EST on Thursday.