Football expert Phil Steele is the owner and publisher of Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, regarded as the college football bible. Get in-depth coverage of college and pro football 24/7/365 at PhilSteele.com.
Texans (-8 1/2) over Colts: How can I back a Houston team that lost by 28 points on Monday Night Football? Well, that’s the exact reason I’m picking it here. The Texans were on their third straight road game and were extended to overtime in two of the previous three weeks. Houston was embarrassed earlier this season versus Green Bay and destroyed Baltimore the following week, 43-13. Andrew Luck meanwhile is completing only 54.5 percent on the road with eight TDs and 13 INTs. Houston’s No. 7 defense will shut him down.
Packers (-3) over BEARS: It’s not how you start but how you finish. Chicago was 7-1 to start this season while Green Bay lost three of its first five. Since those points, the Packers are 7-1 and Bears 1-4. In their first meeting, Green Bay dominated with a 321-168 yardage edge and are now playing better football while the opposite is true for Chicago. The Packers have won 11 straight NFC North games and would like nothing better than to help knock the Bears out of the playoffs.
LAST WEEK (NFL): 2-0. SEASON: 17-9-2.