The Houston Texans open the 2012-13 NFL season on Sunday, and they will do so as double-digit favorites over the Miami Dolphins.
The Texans were 6-1/2-point favorites when betting opened, and while the line has moved, the oddsmakers continue to favor Houston. The Texans are now listed as no smaller than 11-1/2-point favorites over the Dolphins. One oddsmaking site, 5Dimes.eu, favors the Texans by 13 1/2 points.
The pick is fairly non-controversial, as the Texans are widely regarded as not only a favorite in the AFC South, but also a possible Super Bowl representative from the conference. Houston returned a lot of talent on both sides of the ball from last season's division-winning team, running back Arian Foster looked sharp in preseason play, and lining up a healthy Andre Johnson, one of the most talented wide receivers in the sport, doesn't hurt either.
Meanwhile, the season outlook for Miami seems bleak. The Dolphins were ranked 30th of 32 teams in SB Nation's post-training camp Power Rankings.
The Texans kick off against Miami on Sunday in Houston's Reliant Stadium at 12 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on CBS.
For more on the Houston Texans, head over to Battle Red Blog. More news and analysis on the NFL as the regular season begins can be found over at SB Nation's NFL hub andSB Nation's YouTube channel.