NFL Picks: Texans visit Steelers on Monday Night Football

NFL Picks: After a promising 3-1 start for new head coach Bill O’Brien the Houston Texans are reverting back to their bad old habits with two consecutive losses, and it looks like Houston could be heading for another losing season. Just when it looked as if the Pittsburgh Steelers were a top shelf AFC contender they were bombed out by the last place Cleveland Browns to put their bona fides into question yet again.

The Steelers will host the Texans on ESPN Monday Night Football with coverage starting at 8:30 PM ET. Pittsburgh opened as a four point favorite with a total of 44.5.

Texans Two Step

Houston is 3-3 straight up, 4-2 against the spread and 3-3 on totals after their 33-28 Thursday night home loss to Indianapolis as the Texans fell one game behind the Colts on the AFC South. Houston ranks 19^th in the NFL for total offense and 27^th for total defense. The big problem for Houston is at QB where Ryan Fitzpatrick has an 86.1 QB rating with a 6-6 TD-INT ratio.

Rusty Steel

Pittsburgh was blown out at Cleveland 31-10 last week in a game that was no accident and an eye opener to their lack of preparation as they fell behind 31-3 before a garbage TD at the end. The Steelers are 3-3 SU, 2-4 ATS, and 3-3 on totals as they are dead last in the AFC North. Pittsburgh ranks 24^th for scoring offense, 19^th for scoring defense and their special teams have been a perpetual problem.

Matchups and Pick

Houston has covered the spread in five out of their last eight away games with six out of their last ten away games going under the total. The Steelers have covered the spread in five out of their last eight home games with 13 out of their last 20 home games going under the total.

The Texans and Steelers have split their last four meetings both straight up and against the spread with three out of those four meetings going over the total. The home team has come away with the cash in the last two meetings between these two teams. We’ll call for Pittsburgh (-4) to bounce backs strong with a payout and this game to go under the total of 44.5.