Texans vs. Panthers odds preview, game and player prop bets, best sportsbook bonus codes

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It’s a tale of two draft picks on Sunday as 2023′s No. 1 and No. 2 selections, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, take to the field together for the first time on Sunday when the Carolina Panthers host the Houston Texans.

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Bryce Young was the consensus No. 1 quarterback prospect entering the 2023 draft, but it’s been C.J. Stroud who’s played far, far better in Year 1 so far. The Houston quarterback looks a potential star in the making under center for the 3-3 Texans, racking up 1,660 yards (10th in the NFL), nine touchdowns, 276.7 average yards per game, and one interception this year.

In stark contrast, Young and the Panthers have struggled desperately so far this year, going 0-6 as we approach the midway point of the season for their worst start to a year in a quarter of a century.

Both teams are coming off a bye week but while the opportunity for respite and regrouping was a big relief for the beleaguered Panthers, the Texans will have been less welcoming of a break which halted their growing momentum after they had won three of their last four games.

An intriguing subplot here is that Carolina’s break has given them time to bed in offensive coordinator Thomas Brown as the team’s new play-caller after head coach Frank Reich handed him those duties following the team’s sixth straight defeat.

A boost for the Panthers is that starting right guard Austin Corbett, who has yet to play in 2023 due to his recovery from a torn ACL, was officially activated from injured reserve on Tuesday.

The Texans are a 3-point favorite for this one, but are they being overvalued due to recent wins and the Panthers’ struggles?

Kickoff at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC is at noon CT.

Listen, I understand why the Texans are the favorites here. It’s obvious, based on form and results.

But this Panthers side is not destined for a winless season. They have the tools, they have a solid pass defense, and they won’t get many better chances than this, against a mixed team and on home turf for the first time since mid-September.

Although Houston has won three of its last four games, the Texans have given up a ton of yardage in recent games, going 1-1 against the Saints and the Falcons in their last two games before the bye but being outgained by 235 yards across those two outings in the process. Their defense also ranks low in pressure and sacks.

Could this be the game Young dials in?

Brown will likely shake things up dramatically given Carolina’s offensive failings so far this season, introducing more movement and misdirection in an attempt to free up Young’s receivers, giving him both more options for the pass and opportunities for the rush. That attacking reset could not only be a blessing for the rookie QB but also lift some of the attacking responsibilities off veteran WR Adam Thielen’s shoulders, sharing around the burden of carrying and scoring.

Carolina has also fallen behind quickly in several games already this season; keeping it tight through the first half on home turf here will mean the offense can be more patient and more premeditated rather than reactionary and desperate. Oh, and the Texans rank 26th for pass yards against — there’s a weakness there just waiting to be exposed.

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