MNF GAME OF THE WEEK Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals (-10-) 8:30 ET ESPN 2* Houston +10- At 8:30 ET as televised by ESPN, the Houston Texans visit the Cincinnati Bengals to conclude Week 10 of the 2015 NFL schedule. When these teams met last year, Cincinnati was a 2 point underdog in Houston and emerged a (22-13) outright winner. Tonight, Cincinnati enters as one of only 3 undefeated teams in the NFL at 8-0 SU, after Carolina and New England each recorded their 9th consecutive victory on Sunday. Following a 9-7 SU season of last, the Texans are struggling at 3-5 SU ATS this season. The Bengals are not only undefeated for the season, they have also yet to fail to the pointspread with a 27-24 home field victory as (-3) vs. Seattle (the only ATS blotch on their record). That 7-0-1 ATS mark, including a 3-0-1 ATS mark on this field, runs the Bengals’ recent record on this field to 16-4-1 ATS. In going undefeated ATS this campaign, the Bengals have covered by a total of 63 points, almost 8 PPG. Little to complain about, when the offense is purring at 29/391/6.2 and the defense is allowing just 18/349. Offensive improvement has come through the maturity of QB Dalton who is completing 67% of his passes with an 18/4 ratio. Recipient of half of those scoring tosses has been the emergence of TE Eifert. All the above numbers, along with the Bengals’ 11 days rest following their recent Thursday night win over Cleveland (31-10), in which the Bengals outrushed Cleveland 152-69 and outgained them 317-213, are reasons why the public will be lining up en masse, on the defeated Jungle Cats tonight. Despite their 3-5 SU ATS record, Houston is not an empty golf bag! The emergence of QB Hoyer, who has a 13/3 ratio and his connection with WR Hopkins (6 TDs) for nearly half those scoring tosses, leads a viable offense that is actually outgaining their opposition 369-351. The Texans have had 2 weeks to build good thoughts about themselves, after their (20-6) home victory over Tennessee, November 1st. In good health, after 2 weeks of rest and with a world of motivation playing on MNF against an undefeated team, look for the best that Houston has to offer as they slide in under this number against the Bengals.

11/16/2015 10:54 AM