Rams vs. Texans Week 8 Picks: Can the Rams Win Big?

Sportsbook Review

Last Updated: October 28, 2021 5:19 AM EDT • 1 min 58 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Inglewood, California. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Sean M. Haffey / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The 6-1 Rams are the NFC's second-place team and must keep winning to stay in the NFC West race. They travel to face the Houston Texans, who are 1-6 and simply trying to show competence. Can the Texans cover this aggressive spread?

Houston has lost six straight games after winning in Week 1. The Texans are just 1-4 against the spread over their last five, and the Under has hit in four of those games.

The Rams have covered in six of their last 10 battles while going Over in six of the club's last nine.

Here are my picks and predictions for the NFL's Week 8 matchup between the Texans and the Rams (Odds via DraftKings, and pick confidence is based on a one-to-five star scale).

Rams vs. Texans Game Info

Date/Time: Sunday, October 31 at 1 p.m. ETTV: FOXLocation: NRG StadiumWeather: Indoors

Rams vs. Texans Odds Analysis

This line opened at 13.5 and has continued to swell. That's a ton of points, and the Texans have already been double-digit underdogs twice this year. They covered once as 10-point dogs against Minnesota.

Meanwhile, the Rams covered as 9.5-point favorites during their season opener against Chicago, but they've been receiving more reasonable lines since. They've covered three of their last four spreads.

Rams vs. Texans Betting Picks

Rams -14 (-115) ?????Under 47.5 (-110) ???

Rams vs. Texans Predictions

Rams -14 (-115)

The Rams possess the unique ability to dominate for a second straight week against a terrible team. They're loaded with a great coaching staff and surrounding cast, so inserting Matthew Stafford into the offense was a guaranteed success.

It's shocking how pass-heavy the Rams have become. They used to rely on the run, but Los Angeles now boasts the league's fourth-ranked passing attack, and Stafford is enjoying a career-best season under head coach Sean McVay.

Meanwhile, Houston is bringing back quarterback Tyrod Taylor off the injured reserve soon, and the Texans could start the veteran despite the team's bleak outlook. We don't know yet if it'll be Taylor or rookie Davis Mills starting in Week 8, but it doesn't matter much.

That all points toward the Rams being able to score easily. The Texans labor to score once or twice, whereas the Rams can pile up points fast. Houston's defense won't limit Los Angeles enough for this game to be tight.

Under 47.5 (-110)

Much of the same reasoning applies to the total. Houston doesn't score with ease, and the Rams' defense is strong. A huge Rams blowout, like 42-7, feels likely, and an unprecedented game from the Texans is needed to avoid that outcome. There's no reason to think the Texans can put up 21 points and push this total Over.

This is one of my safest plays of the week. The Rams will get up multiple scores and settle down in the second half while resting some injured stars. Houston's lack of playmaking and offensive upside will be a continued theme against better foes.