Posted at 8:45 AM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle +5½ +100 BET365 +5 -110Sportsinteraction +6 -110 888Sport +5½ -110

Arizona +5½ over Houston

1:00 PM EST. The Texans' exciting win over the Bengals in Cincinnati is yet another sign that they are no longer the doormats of the AFC South. They are one game behind the Jags for the lead and already beat Jacksonville 37-17 back in Week 3 and they play them next week in Houston. Take note of that. The Texans are not yet good enough to just overlook any opponent, but next week is a critical matchup that could propel the Texans into the most surprising team of the season. They may sport the worst rushing attack in the NFL, but last week, Devin Singletary made the backfield interesting again when he ran for 150 yards on the Bengals. Then of course there is rookie sensation, C.J. Stroud. Oh, what a luxury it is to have a competent QB in this league.

C.J. Stroud is already being talked about as a strong candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and after throwing for 826 yards and six touchdowns over the last two games, there are whispers that he is making a case to be the Offensive Player of the Year and the league’s MVP. C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are the flavor of the week and the month. A Houston NFL team hasn’t received this much press since Billy “White Shoes” Johnson. The Texans have covered in five of their past seven games. It’s been probably 30 years since Houston’s (Oilers or Texans) stock has been this high so it would not be the right time to buy, especially against an Arizona team that has about as much appeal as rush hour.

Arizona is a road team this week that has two wins in 10 games. The other teams with a low win total on the road this week are Chicago (+7½) at Detroit, the Raiders (+13½) at Miami, The Giants (+9) at Washington, the Titans (+7) at the Jags, the Bucs (+11) at San Francisco, and the Jets +7 at Buffalo. The Cardinals are taking back significantly less points than all of the aforementioned against the flavor of the week and it’s a big time trap.

Perhaps it’s too little, too late, but the Cardinals were recharged with the debut of Kyler Murray last week and the return of James Conner. Oddsmakers are taking a position here that Arizona covers and probably wins outright. You have been warned to stay away from Houston this week.

Farley

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------