A double dose of Monday Night Football starts with C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Texans aim for their first victory of the 2025 season following a 14-9 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. In contrast, the Buccaneers enter Week 2 victorious over the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 23-20. Key players absent will be wide receivers Christian Kirk, nursing a hamstring injury for Houston, and Chris Godwin, who is sidelined with a foot issue for Tampa Bay.
Kickoff at NRG Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET. Houston is listed as a 2.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 42.5 for the total points. Houston’s money line stands at -142 (risk $142 to win $100), while Tampa Bay is at +119 (risk $100 to win $119). Before finalizing your betting choices, it’s prudent to check the insights from the SportsLine projection model.
Why the Buccaneers can cover: The Buccaneers managed to cover the spread last season at 10-7-0 ATS and successfully did so in their season opener. Despite not racking up significant yardage, Mayfield threw three touchdown passes, with rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka making a notable impact.
Why the Texans can cover: Houston, looking to bounce back after a disappointing start, relies on contributions from players like Nico Collins to exploit a Buccaneers defense that allowed the fourth-most passing yards in Week 1.
For further details on the matchup, including spread insights and predictions, visit the link provided above.
