Even though NRG Stadium wasn’t majorly damaged by Harvey, there are at least three reasons that it may not be able to host the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans Week 1 NFL betting game. One, the NRG Center – which houses NRG Stadium – has been opened as a public shelter; second, the city would have to redirect resources from hurricane recovery to the stadium; and third, the league would have to be 100% sure that up to 70,000 fans could get to NRG Stadium and back home safely.
- Date: Sunday, 10th September
- Time: 1:05 PM
- Sportsbook online odds for fans betting on NFL:
Jaguars +4½ (-110) 40½ (-110) +180
Texans -4½ (-110) 40½ (-110) -220
Can I get a Khaaaaaan!!!?
Jags owner Shad Khan is down with whatever is decided.
Owner Shad Khan on the @Jaguars' scheduled Week One matchup in Houston against the Texans: pic.twitter.com/tuaBZPbvfp
— Tad Dickman (@TadDickman_) August 30, 2017
Moreover, the mustachioed billionaire is willing to swap dates. As in Week 1 for Week 15. Though he does look like a swinger. In other words, the Texans would visit the Jaguars on September 10th and the Jags would return the visit on December 17th (currently scheduled to be played at Jacksonville’s EverBank Field. In which case the Jaguars would close out the season with three games on the road. But they have bigger problems than that. Specifically one that starts with ‘B’ and rhymes with ‘ortles.’ Bortles has to do three things; complete more passes, throw fewer picks, and win more games. On the one hand, these are things that quarterbacks shouldn’t brag about; they’re supposed to be their part and parcel. On the other hand, and in Bortles case, you might have better luck drawing blood from a stone. On the plus side, they have Leonard Fournette, so the Jags could make something of the running game.
The Jaguars have lost their last five meetings with the Texans and only covered in two of the last six. The NFL betting total has gone over in 80% of the Jags’ last five encounters with Houston.
The San Antonio Texans?
The city of San Antonio has generously offered an alternative site for the Jaguars vs. Texans game. “The Alamodome has not been contacted about the possibility of moving the Texans season opener to the Alamodome,” director of the convention and sports facilities department Michael Sawaya said via the Houston Chronicle. “However we have made NRG Stadium management and the Texans aware that we could host the game if they should need to relocate for Sunday, Sept. 10.” If the NRG Stadium were ruled out, the Texans would open their season with three road games – or at least two road games and one neutral. In other news, Houston signed wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to an a five-year, $81 million contract extension with $49 million guaranteed. Nuk has recorded 17 receptions and 4,487 yards and 23 touchdowns in four seasons without the benefit of a star QB, so there’s no reason to believe his production will decrease under Tom Savage’s tenure.
The Texans have won six of their last seven home games against the Jags but have covered in only one of the last five. The NFL betting total has gone under in nine of Houston’s last 13 games at home.