Texans at Steelers Preview: Odds & Betting Tips

Gamblers looking for a stealth team that can do damage and provide betting value may consider the Houston Texans. Starting with the NFL’s top ranked defense the Texans have the potential to surprise in the NFL Playoffs.

Houston will wrap up Wild Card Weekend with a Monday night road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Despite having the higher seed based on winning the AFC North, the Steelers are the underdog, perhaps deservedly so. Pittsburgh has some of the worst metrics in the NFL on both sides of the line. But Pittsburgh closed well and is a highly effective home team.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin took over in 2007 and is just the third head coach since 1969, when the venerable Chuck Noll began to forge the Steel Curtain dynasty of the 1970s, and the most stable franchise in pro sports.

Tomlin won a Super Bowl in 2008 and lost one in 2010. He has never returned, and Steeler fans are tired of his “never had a losing season” schtick.

Pittsburgh takes a lot of heat from fans, NFL betting gamblers, and the media, yet it's in the playoffs.

Texans at Steelers Preview

On Monday, January 12, 2026, the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. Kickoff time is 8 p.m. ET with television coverage on ABC and ESPN.

Public Betting Odds Factors

• The betting action is even for this matchup, and that has caused an honest line.
• Sharps and squares will be splitting their action equally for different reasons.

• Pittsburgh will draw betting action from sharps as a decent home dog and squares for being the home team.

• Houston will draw action from squares as the favorite and Wise Guys as the team considered to be superior to Pittsburgh.

Texans at Steelers Predictions

Handicapping Factors to Consider 

• Despite its weakened reputation, the Steelers remain a strong home betting value.

• Aaron Rodgers had a slightly better season at QB than Houston’s CJ Stroud.

• Pittsburgh closed well to gain the playoffs, while the Texans saw their value drop at the end.

• Pittsburgh owns its series with Houston at Acrisure Stadium.

Texans at Steelers Prime Best Bet: Pittsburgh Steelers

Texans at Steelers Betting Tips

Houston opened as a 3.5-point favorite and Pittsburgh a 3.5-point home dog.

Houston is a -172 moneyline favorite with Pittsburgh a +144 moneyline dog.

The Texans and Steelers opened with a total of 39.5.

Houston Texans 

• Last game, the Houston Texans won 38-30 against the Indianapolis Colts as 9.5-point home dogs.

• The game went over the total of 37.5.

• Houston is 12-5 straight up, 9-8 against the spread, and 6-10-1 over/under the total.

• Overall, Houston ranks 20^th for total offense, 16^th for passing, 23^rd for rushing, 13^th for scoring, and 2^nd for fewest turnovers committed.

• Houston ranks 1^st for total defense, 5^th vs. the pass, 4^th vs. the rush, 2^nd for fewest points allowed, and 3^rd for takeaways.

• Late on, Houston has covered one out of its most recent three games.

• Houston went over the total in three of its last four matchups.

Pittsburgh Steelers 

•  Last game, the Pittsburgh Steelers won 26-24 against the Baltimore Ravens as 4.5-point home dogs.

• The game went over the total of 41.5.

• Now, Pittsburgh is 10-7 straight up, 9-8 against the spread, and 10-7 over/under the total.

• Overall, Pittsburgh ranks 26^th for total offense, 22^nd for passing, 26^th for rushing, 15^th for scoring, and 7^th for fewest turnovers committed.

• Pittsburgh ranks 25th for total defense, 28th vs. the pass, 12^th vs. the rush, 17^th for fewest points allowed, and 8^th for takeaways.

• Late on, Pittsburgh has covered four out of its most recent five games.

• Pittsburgh went over the total in four of its last five matchups.

Texans at Steelers Head-to-Head and Key Stats

• Houston covered the spread in three consecutive road games.

• The Texans went under the total in seven of their most recent nine games.

• The Texans lost only one of their last five games against the spread as a road chalk.

• Pittsburgh covered the spread in four of its last six games as a home dog.

• The Steelers cashed in 13 of their last 18 home games.

• Pittsburgh went over the total in just one of its last five games at home.

• Pittsburgh covered the spread in five of its last seven games against Houston.

• Three of the last five games between the Steelers and Texans went under the total.

• Pittsburgh won and covered its last three home games against Houston, with all three games going over the total.