Kicking off the NFL Divisional Round is the Baltimore Ravens hosting the red-hot Houston Texans.
The Ravens are sizable favorites (-9.5) as they enter favorites to win the AFC. Lamar Jackson seemingly locked up the MVP award and now looks toward his next objective: a Super Bowl.
Can the Texans win their third straight do-or-die bout after a win against the Colts and dispatching the Browns in the Wild Card Round, or will the Ravens dominate once again?
Here’s my Texans vs Ravens same game parlay for Saturday’s bout.
Texans vs Ravens Same Game Parlay: Divisional Round SGP (+642; FanDuel)
- Isaiah Likely Over 35.5 Receiving Yards
- C.J. Stroud Over 8.5 Rushing Yards
- Gus Edwards Anytime Touchdown
What is QuickSlip?
QuickSlip is an Action Network feature that allows users to automatically pre-load their bet slip at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Use our FanDuel Promo Code to get the most out of your Texans-Ravens action.
Isaiah Likely Over 35.5 Receiving Yards
One player I have continually backed on a weekly basis during life without Mark Andrews has been Isaiah Likely. Andrews will reportedly remain on the sidelines for the Divisional Round so Likely remains the lead tight end and is primed for yet another dominant performance against a weaker Texans pass defense.
Aside from Week 18, when Likely played in an unimportant bout in the pouring rain against the Steelers — no Lamar Jackson, either — he has gone over 40-plus receiving yards each game. He is explosive for a tight end, hauling in a 20-plus yard reception in each of the last five games.
This is a great matchup for the Coastal Carolina product. The Texans defense has struggled immensely against the tight end position. In the Wild Card Round, tight ends David Njoku and Harrison Bryant were Cleveland's bright spots. The duo combined for 158 receiving yards in the loss.
Houston allows 6.6 receptions and 65.7 receiving yards to the tight ends. Given Likely’s involvement in this offense as one of Jackson’s most reliable targets, this is another spot to back the young tight end.
The number remains too low for Likely in a Ravens offense that should cruise on Saturday.
Are you in North Carolina? With North Carolina sports betting coming online in 2024, you’ll be able to bet legally at major sportsbooks. Learn more.
C.J. Stroud Over 8.5 Rushing Yards
I backed C.J. Stroud's rushing yards over against the Colts in a do-or-die game, and I am going back to the well here against the Ravens.
Stroud finished with 20 yards in the win and this is the perfect game script for him to scramble. The Ravens allow 16 rushing yards per game to quarterbacks; we saw players like Tua Tagovailoa (14), Trevor Lawrence (41) and even Jake Browning (40) find success on the ground in recent weeks.
Against Baltimore in Week 1, Stroud ran four times for 20 yards. This is the perfect spot for Stroud to use his legs, especially as a near double-digit underdog. It’s going to be a pass-heavy script, which means more opportunities to run.
Stroud is more than capable of eclipsing double-digit rushing yards and I expect him to do so here.
Gus Edwards Anytime TD
Lamar Jackson's rushing touchdowns dropped significantly this season and the primary reason has been Gus Edwards’ emergence as an elite goal-line back. The fifth-year pro finished with 13 rushing touchdowns in the regular season.
The Ravens are going to be able to move the football with an expected team total of 26.5. They’re heavy favorites, too, which means Baltimore will likely lean on the run late. That is the perfect recipe for Edwards, who is fifth in the NFL in carries inside the 10-yard line.
Houston has given up plenty of rushing touchdowns this season (19), which ranks 29th in the NFL. In the last four weeks, the Texans have given up five touchdowns to the RB position.
If that isn’t enough to push you over the edge, Nick Giffen has this projected at +105, which is a big edge in and of itself.
