Raiders Meet Texans South of the Border on Monday Night Football

Monday Night Football concludes Week 11 of the NFL regular season with an AFC showdown, when the Houston Texans play the Oakland Raiders in Mexico City. The current line has Oakland favored by 6 points with the over/under point total on 45.

Entering this game, Houston has an overall record of 6-3 straight up and 5-3-1 against the spread. Oakland entering this game has an overall record of 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS. The game will be played at a neutral site Azteca Stadium. Both teams lead their respective divisions.

This is the first time in the past 11 years the NFL has played a regular season game in Mexico City. The Raiders are listed as the game’s home team, but do not mind playing away from Oakland, as they are 5-0 on the road this season. Oakland is coming off a bye week.

Houston won for the first time on the road in its last game with a 24-21 win at Jacksonville. The Texans lead the AFC by 1 ½  games over Indianapolis and have won two straight after losing three straight on the road by a combined score of 85-22. Houston is coming off its bye week.

Houston quarterback Brock Osweiler threw two touchdowns against Jacksonville. However, over his past three Texans’ games, he has just 416 yards passing.

With Osweiler struggling, Houston used Lamar Miller its running back more often. Miller ran for 83 yards in the game against the Jaguars, while the team finished with a total of 181 yards rushing.

Oakland, during its current winning streak of three games, is averaging just over 31 points per game. The Raiders have won 6 of their past 7 overall and going into Week 11 were tied with Kansas City for first place in the AFC West.

Quarterback Derek Carr is the offensive force behind the Raiders surge. Carr has thrown 17 touchdowns passes and 3 interceptions. He did not throw a TD pass against Denver and only had 184 yards passing, his season low, but Latavius Murray offset that with 114 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns.

Houston is 5-1-1 over its past 7 games on natural grass.

Houston is 5-1 ATS over its past 6 games following its bye week.

Oakland is 5-2 ATS over its past 7 games overall.

Prediction: Oakland has played very well on the road and that is where they are south of the border. Lean here toward the Raiders.