In a battle of division champions from a year ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers battle the Houston Texans in the first of two Monday Night Football matchups. Tampa Bay won the NFC South at 10-7 a year ago, while Houston won the AFC South at 10-7. The Buccaneers (1-0), who beat the Atlanta Falcons 23-20 last week, are 6-3 on the road since the start of 2024. The Texans (0-1), who dropped a 14-9 decision to the Los Angeles Rams, were 5-3 at home last year.

Kickoff from NRG Stadium in Houston is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Texans lead the all-time series 5-1. Houston is a 2.5-point favorite in the latest Buccaneers vs. Texans odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 42.5. Before making any Buccaneers vs. Texans picks or predictions, make sure you check out what SportsLine NFL expert Micah Roberts has to say, given his mastery of picks in games involving the Buccaneers. 

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Micah Roberts has worked in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry for 20-plus years, including a 13-year run as Station Casinos’ book director. Armed with an elaborate network of sources, Roberts has unmatched info in multiple sports. Most importantly, Roberts has a read on the pulse of the Buccaneers. He is 20-9-1 (+1013) on his last 30 against-the-spread picks in games involving Tampa Bay. Anyone who has followed him could be way up.

Now, Roberts has zoned in on Buccaneers vs. Texans. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds and NFL betting lines for Texans vs. Buccaneers:

Buccaneers vs. Texans spread

Houston -2.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook

Buccaneers vs. Texans over/under

42.5 points

Buccaneers vs. Texans money line 

Tampa Bay +114, Houston -135

Buccaneers vs. Texans picks

See picks at SportsLine

Buccaneers vs. Texans streaming 

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Why the Texans can cover

Houston’s offense is powered by quarterback C.J. Stroud. The third-year veteran is coming off a 19-for-27 passing game for 188 yards and one interception. He also rushed fives times for 32 yards. In 17 games a year ago, he completed 63.2% of his passes for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns with 12 picks. He threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns with five interceptions his rookie year.

Running back Nick Chubb helps lead the Houston rushing attack. In last week’s loss to the Rams, he carried 13 times for 60 yards, including a long of 13. The former Cleveland Browns back is in his eighth year in the league. In 86 career games, he has rushed 1,353 times for 6,903 yards (5.1 average) and 51 touchdowns. He also has 128 receptions for 1,042 yards (8.1 average) and five touchdowns. See which team to back at SportsLine. 

Why the Buccaneers can cover

Veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off back-to-back 4,000-yard passing seasons. In 17 games a year ago, he completed 71.4% of his passes for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns with 16 interceptions for a 106.8 rating. He also carried 60 times for 378 yards (6.3 average) and three touchdowns. In the season-opening win over Atlanta, he completed 17 of 32 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns.

Among Mayfield’s top targets is veteran receiver Mike Evans. Evans, who was Tampa Bay’s first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, enters his 12th season with the Buccaneers. In 169 career games with Tampa Bay, he has 841 receptions for 12,735 yards (15.1 average) and 105 touchdowns. In Week 1, he caught five passes for 51 yards with four first-down conversions. See which team to back at SportsLine.

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How to make Buccaneers vs. Texans picks

For Monday Night Football’s Buccaneers vs. Texans matchup, Roberts is leaning under the total, but he also says a critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back. See what it is at SportsLine.

Who covers in Texans vs. Buccaneers and what critical x-factor do you need to know about? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Buccaneers vs. Texans spread you need to jump, all from the expert who returned $1,013 to $100 players over his last 30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers picks, and find out.