Steelers vs Texans Preview: Pittsburgh Favored to Cool Off Stroud, Houston
Stroud Has Gone First 121 NFL Attempts Without an Interception
C.J. Stroud has looked the part at quarterback for the Houston Texans. But up next is a difficult test for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The teams will square off Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Pittsburgh opened as a 4.5-point favorite but is now down to -3 (-110). The Steelers are also -160 on the moneyline, while Houston is +3 (-110) against the spread and +140 to win outright. Meanwhile, the projected total has climbed from 40 to 42 (-110 Over, -110 Under).
Can Houston pull off another upset? Read on as we break down the matchup in our Steelers vs Texans preview.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Houston Texans 
Date & Time:
Location: NRG Stadium; Houston
Streaming: CBS
Steelers vs Texans Betting Trends
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-1 against the spread this season and 6-1 over their last seven games. They’re also 5-1 ATS in their last six games against Houston. The total has gone Under in six of the Steelers’ last nine contests. The Houston Texans, meanwhile, are 1-2 ATS. They’ve lost their last eight home games. That’s important to remember when assessing the football odds in our Steelers vs Texans preview.
Signs of Growth from Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers notched their second straight win Sunday, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 23-18 to move to 2-1. Pittsburgh, a 3-point underdog, intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo three times. They now have eight takeaways in three games, tying them for the second most in the NFL behind the Buffalo Bills (nine).
The Steelers’ embattled offense turned in its most encouraging effort of the young season, rushing for 105 yards — more than the first two weeks combined. And while Kenny Pickett completed just 57.1% of his passes, he did manage to avoid throwing any picks.
That’s promising for the Steelers, who will need the former first-rounder to play up to expectations if they’re to make a playoff run. The Steelers went 9-8 last season, finishing .500 or better for the 19th consecutive season. But it wasn’t enough to make the postseason. Because of that, expectations coming into 2023 were modest, at least by Pittsburgh’s lofty standards.
Still, Pittsburgh may have what it takes to break them. The Steelers, projected for 8.5 wins, have already seen their odds of winning the AFC North improve from +500 to +325. At the moment, the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens are +200 co-favorites.
Remember, few teams are as consistent as Pittsburgh. There’s a reason why Mike Tomlin is one of the NFL’s longest-tenured head coaches. His impact is indisputable.
Stroud the Real Deal?
The Houston Texans pulled off one of the biggest upsets of Week 3, pummeling the Jacksonville Jaguars 37-17 on the road to improve to 1-2. The Texans, 7.5-point underdogs, led 17-0 at halftime and covered the projected total of 44 points with ease. C.J. Stroud completed 20 of 30 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns, including a 68-yarder to fellow rookie Tank Dell in the fourth quarter.
Stroud has now gone his first 121 attempts without throwing an interception, flashing the poise and promise that made him such a coveted prospect coming out of Ohio State. He’s just the third quarterback to pass for 900 yards in his first three starts, joining Justin Herbert (931) and Cam Newton (1,012).
After trudging through last season with Davis Mills under center, the Texans were projected for just 5.5 wins. But their future suddenly looks bright. In addition to Stroud, Dell, a third-round pick out of Houston, has also shown promise. Dell had 145 yards receiving against Jacksonville and has 15 catches for 251 yards overall.
The Texans are still a +900 longshot to win the AFC South, up from +1000. But they’re clearly no longer a pushover, no matter what the odds say. Keep that in mind when analyzing the odds in our Steelers vs Texans preview.
Handicapping the Game
Pittsburgh may not be one of the NFL favorites— it’s just +2000 to win the AFC — but the Steelers remain an imposing matchup. Despite a key NFL injury to All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward (groin), they’ve managed to keep intact most of an elite defense. Look no further than T.J. Watt, who already has a league-leading 6.0 sacks and is +400 to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Currently, only Dallas’ Micah Parsons has better odds (+200).
Stroud has had a bright start to his career, but this is a difficult matchup for the former No. 2 overall pick. The Steelers are known to give rookies fits. Because of that, look for the Steelers to cover the spread on the road.
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