NFL Wild Card Playoff Odds, Picks, SGP Best Bets: Will Texans Upset Chargers?

To kick off the odds for the NFL Wild Card playoff round, the 11-6 Los Angeles Chargers travel to NRG Stadium to battle the 10-7 Houston Texans. The fifth-seeded Chargers are Los Angeles Chargers +3 (-120) on Caesars favorites against the AFC South champs, with a total of 41.5 (-110) on Bet365. Let’s look closer at the wild card odds for the Chargers at Texans, including my best bet and options for same-game parlays.

Click any odds below to place a bet. You can also sift through the best sportsbook promos at the best sports betting sites.

chargers at texans odds: spread, moneyline, total

BetFinder Tool: Texans vs. Chargers Player Props

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NFL wild card best bet: texans +3

Our NFL wild card betting guide notes that this point spread opened with Los Angeles as a 2.5-point road favorite. According to DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) ratings, Jim Harbaugh’s crew is one of six playoff teams with a “good” offense and defense.

I believe the Chargers are overvalued in the market. They exceeded their preseason win total of 8.5, finishing 8-1 straight up (SU) against teams below .500. Nevertheless, they went 3-5 versus teams over .500. Their lone win(s) against a postseason participant came against the Denver Broncos (twice).

To boot, their defense profited from only facing a handful of quarterbacks who settled above the league average in EPA per dropback. They were more pedestrian in those games, surrendering an average of 6.9 yards per pass attempt (YPA) against Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes (twice), Kyler Murray, and Baker Mayfield.

Conversely, I’m (begrudgingly) willing to bet on C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ offense at what is seemingly the bottom of their market value. Stroud undoubtedly underperformed expectations in his sophomore campaign, and he’s without stud wideouts Stefon Diggs (torn ACL) and Tank Dell (knee) the rest of the way. But he’s feasted against zone defenses, which the Chargers primarily utilize.

Meanwhile, Justin Herbert and Co. have made a living on playing ball control, manufacturing a top-10 rushing rate. On paper, DeMeco Ryan’s unit is built to stymie them at the line of scrimmage, generating the league’s second-best run-stop win rate.

Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. deserves his flowers. However, this matchup places more pressure on Houston’s nose tackles, like Tim Settle. Los Angeles showcases dominant offensive tackles in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, yet it’s vulnerable on the interior.

Final Wild Card Betting Thoughts

The Chargers are playing their third straight road contest, traveling from New England to Las Vegas and Houston. Over the past 19 seasons, playoff teams in this situation are just 11-27 SU (29%). This trend indicates that teams are often overvalued in these spots.

On Tuesday, I bet 1.15 units on Texans +3 (-115) at bet365 Sportsbook. You’ll find this pick in our free sports betting Discord channel. Head to the #roles server to enroll in push notifications.

Potential Same-Game Parlay Picks

Using the odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, I would consider putting some pizza money on an SGP with Texans moneyline (ML) and Stroud to tally two or more passing touchdowns. This two-leg SGP produces +275 odds.

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NFL Wild Card Promos For Same-Game Parlays

Most SGP promos will require you to opt in to qualify for the SGP promotional benefits. We’re seeing bonus-bets-back SGP offers for every customer at FanDuel Sportsbook.

There are also profit boost offers at bet365, DraftKings, and Caesars. BetMGM Sportsbook offers SGP insurance tokens for bonus bets if one leg loses.

watch: chargers at texans betting preview

Team injuries

Last Updated on 01.11.2025

Player	Pos Position	Injury	Status	Snaps/g Snaps Per Game	Comment
	Houston Texans
Brandon Hill S Knee Out 0 Hill is dealing with a right knee injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season. Brevin Jordan TE Knee Out 43.5 Jordan suffered a torn ACL and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. British Brooks RB Knee Out 17.6 Brooks suffered a torn meniscus and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Case Keenum QB Foot Out 0 Keenum is dealing with a foot injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season. Christian Harris LB Ankle Probable 0 Harris is active for the Wild Card Round versus the Chargers. Dalton Keene TE Knee Out 0 Keene suffered a torn ACL and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season. Denico Autry DE Knee Probable 0 Autry is active for the Wild Card Round versus the Chargers. Devin White LB Gameday Inactive Out 0 Wild Card Round. Jalen Pitre S Shoulder Out 55.7 Pitre suffered a torn pectoral and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Jamal Hill LB Hamstring Out 15.8 Hill is dealing with a hamstring injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. Jaylon Thomas OT Undisclosed Out 0 Thomas is battling an undisclosed injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season. Jerry Hughes DE Gameday Inactive Out 0 Wild Card Round. Jimmie Ward S Foot Out 46.5 Ward will undergo foot surgery and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. John Metchie III WR Shoulder Probable 0 Metchie III is active for the Wild Card Round versus the Chargers. Ka’dar Hollman CB Knee Out 30.6 Hollman is dealing with a knee injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games. Kurt Hinish DT Gameday Inactive Out 0 Wild Card Round. LaDarius Henderson G Foot Out 0 Henderson underwent foot surgery and has been placed on the non-football injury list. He will miss at least four games. Nick Broeker G Gameday Inactive Out 0 Wild Card Round. Shaq Mason G Knee Out 0 Mason has been ruled out heading into the Wild Card Round versus the Chargers and is listed as a gameday inactive. Stefon Diggs WR Knee Out 53.9 Diggs has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Tank Dell WR Knee Out 45.7 Dell suffered a dislocated knee and a torn ACL and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Teagan Quitoriano TE Knee Questionable 21.6 The Texans have opened the 21-day practice window for Quitoriano as they await his return from the injured reserve list. Zach Thomas OT Illness Out 0 Thomas is dealing with an illness and has been placed on the non-football illness list. He will miss at least four games.
	Los Angeles Chargers
Asante Samuel Jr. CB Shoulder Out 62.8 Samuel Jr. is dealing with an shoulder injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games. Brenden Rice WR Shoulder Out 4.3 Rice is dealing with a shoulder injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games. Bucky Williams OL Undisclosed Out 0 Williams is dealing with an undisclosed injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season. Chris Collins OLB Undisclosed Out 0 Collins is dealing with an undisclosed injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season. Chris Rumph II OLB Foot Out 0 Rumph is dealing with a foot injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season. Denzel Perryman LB Groin Probable 0 Perryman is active for the the Wild Card Round versus the Texans. Easton Stick QB Gameday Inactive Out 0 Wild Card Round Elijah Molden CB Fibula Out 58.7 Molden suffered a broken fibula and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Hayden Hurst TE Gameday Inactive Out 0 Wild Card Round J.K. Dobbins RB Ankle Probable 0 Dobbins is active for the Wild Card Round versus the Texans. Ja’Sir Taylor DB Oblique Out 38.1 Taylor is dealing with an oblique injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Jalen Reagor WR Finger Out 21.5 Reagor is dealing with a finger injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games. Jaret Patterson RB Gameday Inactive Out 0 Wild Card Round Joshua Palmer WR Foot Out 0 Palmer has been ruled out heading into the Wild Card Round versus the Texans and is listed as a gameday inactive. Justin Eboigbe DL Gameday Inactive Out 0 Wild Card Round Kimani Vidal RB Gameday Inactive Out 0 Wild Card Round Marcus Maye S Ankle Out 35.1 Maye is dealing with an ankle injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games. Quentin Johnston WR Thigh Probable 0 Johnston is active for the Wild Card Round versus the Texans. Trey Pipkins III OT Oblique Out 0 Pipkins III is listed as a gameday inactive for the Wild Card Round versus the Texans. Tyler McLellan OT Undisclosed Out 0 McLellan is dealing with an undisclosed injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season.

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