The NFL action continues on Sunday, October 2 with ten afternoon games including this conference clash in Texas, and here you can check out the Chargers vs. Texans betting pick and odds.

Houston is hoping for the first win of the season when they host Los Angeles at NRG Stadium. The Chargers are 5-point favorites on BetOnline Sportsbook, while the total is set at 44 points. These AFC rivals have met once in 2021, and the Texans won that game 41-29 in Houston.

Chargers were shocked by the Jaguars in L.A.

The Los Angeles Chargers displayed their weakest of the new NFL season in a disappointing 38-10 home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Nothing worked for the Chargers since the very start; they had only 21 minutes of possession opposite Jacksonville’s 38, while the Jags were better in both total yards (413-312) and first downs (25-16). Also, Los Angeles committed two turnovers and forced none on the other end.

Justin Herbert, who played with a rib injury, completed 25 of 45 passes for 297 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Mike Williams had just one reception, but it was a magnificent one for a score, while Joshua Palmer led all the receivers with 99 yards on six catches. The Chargers’ run offense was pretty toothless as they collected miserable 26 yards on 12 attempts. Drue Tranquill and Michael Davis were solid defensively with 22 combined tackles.

QB Herbert (ribs), WR Keenan Allen (hamstring), and C Corey Linsley (knee) are questionable to play on Sunday against Houston, while DE Joey Bosa (groin) is out.

Texans fell short to the Bears on the road

The Houston Texans are only one of two teams without a win after the opening three weeks of the new NFL campaign. Although they didn’t lose all three games (a tie with the Indianapolis Colts), the Texans lost the previous two to the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears. Houston had a 20-20 result in Chicago entering the final 15 minutes and it stayed that way until the last second when the Bears’ kicker Cairo Santos scored a game-winning field goal for Chicago.

Davis Mills completed 20 of 32 passes for 245 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. His lone TD pass went to tight end Jordan Akins, while Chris Moore led all the receivers on the field with 63 yards on three receptions. Dameon Pierce was solid on the ground as he posted 80 yards with a touchdown on 20 carries, but the Texans couldn’t stop Chicago’s run offense and surrendered even 281 yards and two TDs on 40 carries. Rookie Safety Jalen Pitre recorded a pair of interceptions, his first picks in the NFL; Jerry Hughes had two sacks, while Jonathan Owens led the team with 11 total tackles.

Trends:

Los Angeles:

  • 11-3 ATS in the last 14 games following a double-digit loss at home
  • 5-1 ATS in the last six games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game

Houston:

  • 3-8 ATS in the last 11 games in October
  • 1-7-1 SU in the last nine games at home

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans Pick  

I am backing the Chargers to bounce back from a disappointing home loss to the Jags. Herbert is questionable but will likely take the field again, and because he will not be 100%, expect to see a lot of running from the Chargers. They need to establish a run offense, which has been the worst in the NFL with just 59.0 yards on average, and hurt Houston’s defense that allowed the league’s highest 202.3 yards per game on the ground. Austin Ekeler will have a major role in this game, and I think he has the ability to lead the Chargers to victory.

Pick: Take the Chargers at -5 (-110)

The Total

If the Chargers play without both Herbert and Allen, they will be pretty limited in pass offense, so there will be plenty of work for running backs Sony Michel and Austin Ekeler. Even if Herbert and Allen play in this one, they will not be fully fit, and I think the visitors will try to keep the possession and move the chains on the ground. Both teams are below average when it comes to the offense, with 35.6 points on average combined. Under is 6-1 in the Texans’ last seven games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game, while Under is 7-3 in Houston’s previous ten vs. AFC rivals.

Pick: Go Under 44.5 (-120)