Kansas City is at the top of our NFL Betting Predictions to win the AFC.

Kansas City at Houston Week 5 Spread, Preview & NFL Betting Pick

Written by on October 6, 2017

It’s a third prime-time game already for the Kansas City Chiefs and they bring the NFL’s only 4-0 record into Houston in what could easily be a playoff preview as both teams lead their divisions. The Texans are slight NFL betting underdogs but this could be a pick’em by kickoff.

Kansas City at Houston Week 5 Spread, Preview & NFL Betting Pick

When: Sunday, 8:30 PM ET Where: NRG Stadium TV: NBC Radio: 101 The FOX (Kansas City) / KILT 610AM (Houston) Opening NFL Betting Lines: Chiefs -1 (46.5)

Weather Forecast

  • Clear: 28°C/83°F
  • Humidity: 66%
  • Precipitation: 3%
  • Wind: 6 mph NW
  • Cloud Cover: 27%
  • Type of Stadium: Retractable

Last Meeting

Kansas City visited Houston in Week 2 last year and lost 19-12 – both teams are way better offensively now. DeAndre Hopkins had 113 yards receiving and a touchdown and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to help the Texans to the victory. Novak is no longer with Houston. J.J. Watt had 1.5 sacks, five combined tackles, two quarterback hits and a fumble recovery. The whole defense had a strong performance, allowing just three field goals to the Chiefs and forcing three turnovers. The three defensive fumble recoveries in the first half was a franchise record. Kansas City had 291 yards and was 3-for-14 on third down.

Latest NFL Betting Trends

  • Chiefs are 6-1 ATS in the last 7 games
  • Chiefs are 6-1 SU in the last 7 games
  • The total went OVER in 5 of Kansas City’s last 7 games
  • Texans are 4-2 ATS in the last 6 games
  • Texans are 9-2 SU in the last 11 games at home
  • The total went OVER in 4 of Houston’s last 6 games

NFL Week 5 Odds & Game Preview: Jacksonville at Pittsburgh

Why Bet On Kansas City?

They are the only unbeaten team left. ​The Chiefs remained the league’s only unbeaten team with a 29-20 win over Washington on Monday night. Quarterback Alex Smith, who leads the league with a 124.2 passer rating, had a passing touchdown and a rushing TD in the win. Smith leads the league in completion percentage (76.0), passer rating against the blitz (158.33), passer rating on balls that travel at least 21 yards in the air (141.4), and just overall passer rating (124.2). Smith is averaging 8.82 yards per attempt, which ranks as third-highest in the NFL, and has thrown eight touchdowns and no interceptions this season. He’s on pace to shatter all of his career bests. Kansas City rookie running back Kareem Hunt had 121 scrimmage yards, including 101 rushing, against the Redskins and became the fourth rookie to record at least 100 scrimmage yards in each of his team’s first four games. Hunt joined Billy Sims (1980), Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (2001) and Adrian Peterson (2007) as the only rookies to accomplish the feat. Hunt leads the NFL in rushing yards (502) and scrimmage yards (659) and ranks second in total touchdowns (six). With 100 scrimmage yards at Houston, Hunt would join Peterson as the only rookies in NFL history with at least 100 scrimmage yards in each of his team’s first five games of a season. With 129 scrimmage yards in Week 5, Hunt would surpass Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (787 in 1983) for the most scrimmage yards by a rookie in his team’s first five games of a season. The Chiefs can almost punch their playoff ticket. Since 1990, when the current 12-team playoff format was adopted, 64 of the previous 79 teams (81 percent) to start 4-0 have made the playoffs. However, nothing is a given as the two teams to start 4-0 in 2016 – Denver and Minnesota – both missed the postseason.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 30.50
  • Total Yards: 405.25
  • Rush Yards: 163.50
  • Passing Yards: 241.75
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 19.25
  • Total Yards: 359.5
  • Rush Yards: 111.50
  • Passing Yards: 248

Why Bet On Houston?

The Chiefs are coming off a short week and will not have their offensive line at full strength, which could be a huge problem against J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney. Rookie QB Deshaun Watson passed for 283 yards with four touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown in the Texans’ 57-14 win against Tennessee in Week 4. Watson joined Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton (September 17, 1961) as the only rookies in NFL history to throw for at least 250 yards with four touchdowns and rush for a TD in the same game. Watson is the only rookie quarterback in league annals with at least seven passing touchdowns and two rushing TDs in his team’s first four games of a season. Are the Texans a safe NFL betting pick in Week 5? The Houston Texans’ 57 points scored against the Titans are the most in a game by a team with a rookie starting QB since Seattle and Russell Wilson scored 58 points against Arizona on December 9, 2012. With those numbers, Watson earned the AFC’s “Offensive Player of the Week Award” on Wednesday. The Chiefs are averaging 164 yards rushing per game this season, which is 15 yards better than the team in second place — the Jacksonville Jaguars (149). The Texans come into this game ranked 14th in the league against the run — allowing an average of just 96 yards rushing per game. Houston has two very good receivers in Hopkins and Will Fuller. Fuller saw his first action of the season last week against the Titans and finished with four catches for 35 yards and two touchdowns. Hopkins, who signed a healthy contract extension right before the season began, finished with 10 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 27.50
  • Total Yards: 332.75
  • Rush Yards: 139.75
  • Passing Yards: 193
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 22
  • Total Yards: 291.50
  • Rush Yards: 95.50
  • Passing Yards: 196

Series History

  • Total Meetings: 9
  • First Meeting: September 21, 2003. Reliant Stadium. Houston, Texas
  • Last Meeting: September 18th, 2016. NRG Stadium. Houston, Texas
  • All-Time Series: Kansas City Chiefs 5-4-0
  • Largest Margin of Victory: Kansas City 30-0 (2016)
  • Longest Win Streak: Tied 2
  • Current Win Streak: Houston 1 (2016)

Expert NFL Betting Pick & Prediction for Week 5

Can’t wait to watch the NFL’s two best rookies. I like Houston as the NFL betting pick simply because Kansas City is on the short week.