Houston is the unlikely AFC South champion and delivered an old-fashioned whopping of the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Wild Card Round to reach their AFC Divisional Round matchup with the Ravens.
Baltimore won the AFC North and finished the season as the top seed in the AFC. For the first time in three seasons, quarterback Lamar Jackson ended the season under center instead of the IR.
Please join me as I break this one down with my best free prop bets for Saturday’s AFC Divisional Round matchup between the Texans and Ravens on January 20.
Texans vs. Ravens Best Prop Bets
Nico Collins Under 5.5 receptions (+115) at BetMGM
Houston Texans wideout Nico Collins is having a fantastic season and coming off a six-reception, 96-yard game. Still, Collins has a tough matchup against a Ravens secondary, allowing just 8.67 receptions over their last four matchups.
Collins has cleared 5.5 receptions in three of his last five, but Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ passing game haven’t fared well outdoors this season. Stroud averages 231.7 passing yards with six scoring strikes and a 61% completion rate. That number dipped even further when playing as the away team outdoors.
Finally, the wind will be howling, and it will be frigid in Baltimore. The Ravens have the best pass rush in the game, with a secondary allowing very few receptions per game to wideouts. The Houston WR room is really banged up, Stroud has struggled outdoors, and Collins won’t clear his prop number at BetMGM Maryland.
Dalton Schultz Over 3.5 receptions (-110) at BetMGM
Stroud might have difficulty finding his wide receivers, he’ll likely be staring at a large deficit and will be forced to throw the football. Texans tight end Dalton Schultz will be the likely recipient, and he should clear this prop number at Caesars.
Look, Stroud is going to have to throw the football. Baltimore is a great cover team against wide receivers, but the Ravens have allowed five receptions per game over their last four to the tight end position, and Schultz will be the beneficiary.
Schultz was second in targets on the Texans and hauled in 59 balls. He had only one reception in last week’s blowout victory over Cleveland but has cleared this prop number in three of his last five and is a good bet to do so again Saturday.
C.J. Stroud Under 21.5 completions (-114) at FanDuel
Finally, we’ve already mentioned how stout the Baltimore passing defense is, and this prop at FanDuel Maryland is a bit juicy, but Stroud will more than likely finish his night with Under 21.5 completions.
Stroud has benefited greatly this season from playing indoors. He completes just 61% of his passes and hasn’t cleared this mark in four of his last five matchups. That’s a big number for this prop bet against a Baltimore defense, allowing 22.6 completions per game with 92 passes defended, 18 interceptions, and an average of 2.83 sacks per game.
