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C.J. Stroud NFL Player Props, Odds Week 18: Predictions for Texans vs. Colts

Phil Naessens

Last Updated: January 6, 2024 2:23 PM EST • 2 min 50 sec read.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud has the chance to lead the Houston Texans to the playoffs with a victory over the Indianapolis Colts, and we're offering our top C.J. Stroud NFL player prop predictions based on the best NFL odds at the best sports betting sites.

Houston Texans signal-caller C.J. Stroud returned from a two-game absence to lead the Texans to a 26-3 home victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 17, keeping his team's playoff hopes alive. He'll need to find the same form again in Week 18 when Houston visits the AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts.

The rookie quarterback faces a stiff test Saturday night against an equally desperate Colts team, which also needs a victory to keep its playoff hopes alive.

We already broke down the importance of this game in our Texans vs. Colts prediction, and don't forget about our Texans vs. Colts player props, either.

In addition to our NFL Week 18 predictions and NFL Week 18 player props, here are our best C.J. Stroud NFL player prop predictions for the Texans vs. Colts Week 18 matchup (odds via our best NFL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

C.J. Stroud NFL player prop predictions for Week 18

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C.J. Stroud player props

C.J. Stroud Over 1.5 passing TDs (+102 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has been fantastic during his rookie season, throwing 21 TD passes on the season with seven multiple scoring strikes over his 14 games. He has a tough matchup Saturday against a Colts defense allowing 1.2 TD passes per tilt.

The Colts passing defense was gashed in Week 17 for 299 yards and a pair of scoring strikes at home to the Las Vegas Raiders. They are an aggressive defense but Stroud has shown tremendous poise throughout the season and slung two in Week 2 against these very Colts and will do so again Saturday night in a must-win game for Houston. 

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C.J. Stroud Over 7.5 rushing yards (-110 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Indianapolis Colts average 3.1 sacks per game, and the defense will go after Stroud hard in this must-win situation for both teams. Stroud is known for his quick decisions, and after being sacked 37 times this season, expect one of those decisions to tuck the ball and run.

Stroud had just one rushing attempt in Week 17, but we should expect him to take off against a Colts rushing defense, allowing 126 rushing yards per game and 20.4 rushing yards to quarterbacks. Stroud has cleared the prop number in eight of his 14 games, and we should expect him to clear the 7.5 on Saturday. PointsBet posted Over 5.5 yards (-140), which is too much juice to pay for an extra two yards. 

C.J. Stroud Over 21.5 completions (-115 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Texans boast the seventh-best passing offense in the NFL, and we should expect them to attack the Colts through the air and succeed. Stroud completed 26 passes in his Week 17 return from a concussion and has eclipsed this mark in seven of his 14 tilts this season.

The Colts defense has been stingy, allowing 21.5 completions per game, but allowed 30 last week to Raiders signal-caller Aiden O'Connell. Stroud completed 30 passes in the Texans' Week 2 victory over Indy, and we should expect the Texans' rookie to come out slinging and improve upon his 62% completion rate. 

C.J. Stroud player prop picks made Friday at 2:01 p.m. ET.

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Written By:
Phil Naessens
Phil Naessens spent 38 years as a high-performance international tennis coach and has been handicapping sports since childhood. He published his first tennis article in 2005 and has been writing ever since at places like Covers, Game Day, SB Nation, Winners & Whiners, Stat Salt, Sharp App as well as many others. Phil has published four sports betting books and hosts podcasts This Week in Tennis and The Phil Naessens Show.