Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears Odds, Picks and Predictions

Stroud, Williams Unlikely to Play

The NFL preseason begins Thursday (8 p.m. ET), with the Houston Texans facing the Chicago Bears in the annual Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio. Most, if not all, starters are unlikely to play, meaning we won’t see C.J. Stroud or Caleb Williams.

NFL . Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 8 p.m. ET | Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio

Houston Texans

@

Chicago Bears

Pick UNDER 31.5

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Because of that, this game tends to be disjointed and devoid of much substance. Scoring is generally on the lower side, with the Under having hit in seven of the last nine years.

Will this time around be any different? Read on for our Hall of Fame Game betting tips.

Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears Odds

Before our Texans betting analysis and Bears game predictions, the updated NFL odds:

SPMLTotal:

+1 -110+100O 32 -110

-1 -110-120U 32 -110

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SPMLTotal:

-1.5 -115-125O 31.5 -110

+1.5 -105-105U 31.5 -110

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SPMLTotal:

-2.5 -109-129O 32 -109

+2.5 -112+105U 32 -112

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SPMLTotal:

-1.5 -109-122U 31.5 -111

+1.5 -111-122U 31.5 -109

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Chicago opened as a 1.5-point favorite, though the spread’s now flipped in Houston’s favor at -1.5. Bettors shouldn’t read too much into that shift, as Stroud is highly unlikely to play. The starting nod will presumably instead go to backup David Mills, with veterans Case Keenum and Tim Boyle also getting reps.

With so much uncertainty, this is just a case of the oddsmakers siding with the superior team in Houston.

Be sure to keep that in mind when making your NFL expert picks today.

Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears Betting Preview

Houston’s Ryan Non-Committal on Stroud

Don’t expect DeMeco Ryans to pull any surprises. The reigning NFL Coach of the Year plans to treat the Hall of Fame Game as it’s intended: an opportunity to get extensive playing time for less-experienced players as they fight for a roster spot.

Ryans said, “We’ll see,” when asked this week if Stroud would play, which seems like a pretty good indication he won’t. That’s important to remember when assessing our Hall of Fame Game betting tips.

The Houston Texans, +105 favorites to repeat atop the AFC South, are going to play it safe with their starters.

• Key Injuries: Wide receiver Tank Dell has been practicing with the first-team offense after recovering from a broken leg last December. Dell – who had 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns per NFL team stats – was also shot in the leg in April but should be good to go for the regular season.
• Betting Trends: Houston was 10-9 against the spread in 2023 and 7-11-1 against the Over/Under.

Williams’ Debut to Wait

Head coach Matt Eberflus plans to rest all his starters in the preseason opener. That includes Williams, the No. 1 overall pick. Tyson Bagent, who started four games in place of Justin Fields as an undrafted rookie, will instead get the nod at quarterback. Brett Rypien and rookie Austin Reed could also get time.

• Key Injuries: Chicago’s offensive line is already in flux, with right guard Nate Davis sidelined with an unspecified muscle strain. That’s forced Ryan Bates to shift from center, where he’s competing with Coleman Shelton for starter’s reps.
• Betting Trends: The Chicago Bears went 8-7-2 ATS last season and 9-8 against the Over/Under.

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Value in Betting Under

Neither Houston nor Chicago is likely to play anyone of significance, making the matchup difficult to predict. That’s why we’re instead going to target the total of 31.5.

Sure, that number feels low, but it speaks to the nature of the Hall of Fame Game. The game has averaged only 31.3 points over the last three seasons. Based on all the information at our disposal, we’re going to back recent trends and side with the Under at -109 odds for our Hall of Fame Game betting tips.