Early Buccaneers vs. Texans Prediction, Odds & Picks for MNF: NFL Week 2

My early Buccaneers vs. Texans prediction looks to take advantage of Over 44.5 before the line ticks up.

Mike Spector

Last Updated: September 8, 2025 9:02 AM EDT • 4 minute read

Early Buccaneers vs. Texans Prediction, Odds & Picks for MNF: NFL Week 2 — Pictured: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) celebrates with wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) after a touchdown. Photo by Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans meet in the first game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader in Week 2, and I break it down with my early Buccaneers vs. Texans prediction as part of our NFL picks.

The Texans opened as a 1.5-point home favorite, but I make my case for the Over being the smartest play as part of our NFL predictions for Week 2.

Kickoff from NRG Stadium in Houston is set for 7 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN).

💰 Early Buccaneers vs. Texans prediction & best bet

Stay ahead with the rest of our early NFL predictions.

⬆️ Over 44.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The total for next week’s Monday Night Football contest is already down two points from its opening number, as Houston laid an egg with nine points in its season-opening loss. That marked the third time in three seasons under head coach DeMeco Ryans that the Texans did not score a touchdown, and it was also quarterback C.J. Stroud’s third career game with no touchdowns and at least one interception.

I get the public’s initial reaction to loving the Under for next week, especially after Houston committed two turnovers and punted twice on its four second-half possessions in Week 1. However, I am buying low on its offense, especially if it gets some key skill position players like Christian Kirk or Braxton Berrios back for next week.

I am not dismissing Stroud yet - he has always played better in the first half of seasons than the second. Over the last two years (not counting last week), he has a 26-8 TD-INT ratio in the first half of the season, and a 17-9 TD-INT ratio in the second half.

I was also encouraged by Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s play during last week’s game-winning drive, when he went 4-for-5 for 48 yards and a touchdown. His instant connection with wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is also a good sign, as Egbuka became the second player in Tampa Bay franchise history with two touchdowns in his NFL debut.

The total has come down enough that I am backing its 52.38% implied probability to cash the Over with confidence. Through FanDuel’s -110 odds, a $10 winning wager would return $9.09 in profits.

📊 Buccaneers vs. Texans odds: Week 2

NFL odds update live in real time.

📈 Buccaneers vs. Texans opening odds

Moneyline: Buccaneers +110 | Texans -130
Spread: Buccaneers +1.5 (-105) | Texans -1.5 (-115)
Over/Under: Over 46.5 (-110) | Under 46.5 (-110)

🔍 Buccaneers vs. Texans odds analysis

Please look at the odds from the matchup page and assess odds movement, and where you think odds might move throughout the week (and why). What would be the number that would make you place a bet?

🚑 Buccaneers vs. Texans injury report

📺 Buccaneers vs. Texans game info

When: Monday, Sept. 15
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Where: NRG Stadium (Houston)
How to watch: ABC/ESPN

❓ Buccaneers vs. Texans FAQs

Who is favored to win Buccaneers vs. Texans?

The Texans have a 56.52% implied probability based on their -130 moneyline odds to even their record at 1-1 next week. Conversely, Tampa Bay has a 47.62% chance on the high end of the market to pull the upset based on its +110 moneyline odds.

What are the opening odds for Buccaneers vs. Texans?

The Texans range from 1.5 to 2.5-point betting favorites at our best sports betting apps. The O/U is down from an opening number of 46.5, ranging from 44.5 to 45.5.

How do NFL odds work?

When betting on NFL odds, the point spread shows how many points the favorite needs to win by in order to cash the bet. For example, a favorite of -3 must win by more than 3 points to cover the spread, while an underdog at +3 must win outright or lose by fewer than 3 points to cover the spread.

Moneyline odds represent the payout for picking the outright winner (+200 means a $100 bet wins $200, while -200 means a $200 bet wins $100). Over/Unders let you wager on whether the combined total will be higher or lower than the set number.

You can determine the payouts and implied probabilities for any wager - or convert odds to different formats - with our odds converter.

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Written by:
Mike Spector

Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike leans on his NFL experience and always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”