When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4) take the field this Sunday, Nov. 13, against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans (6-3), they'll do so as the underdogs despite having homefield advantage. SB Nation parter OddsShark lists the Texans as 3.5-point favorites in this matchup, the first between the two teams since 2007 and third since the Texans' inception in 2002. The over-under is set at 45.5.
It's easy to see why the oddsmakers prefer the Texans in this matchup, given the directions in which the two teams are trending: Houston has won each of its last three games, while the Bucs have lost two straight following an impressive victory against the New Orleans Saints.
The Texans own the league's No. 6 offense, averaging 26.2 points per game, and the NFL's No. 3 defense, allowing 17.4 points per game. The Buccaneers score 18.4 points per game (No. 24) and allow 24.5 points per game (No. 23).