C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young Duel After Bye Week - Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers How to Watch, Betting Odds
The rookie seasons for Carolina Panthers (0-5) quarterback Bryce Young and Houston Texans (3-3) quarterback C.J. Stroud, the top two picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, have gone in entirely different directions.
Young is under center for a winless Panthers team and frankly looks overwhelmed. His 32.1 quarterback rating is the worst amongst starters, and the box score stats don’t paint a rosier picture. He’s thrown for just 967 yards in five games, with six touchdowns and four interceptions.
Stroud, on the other hand, has been truly promising. He broke the record for passes without an interception to start his career and, more importantly, has the Texans playing .500 football through the bye week. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has harnessed his anticipation and aggressiveness and unleashed one of the league’s better passing offenses.
Stroud attempts a pass against the Atlanta Falcons.
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The two will face off on Sunday in Charlotte, hoping to grant some confirmation bias to their respective front offices and fans alike.
Houston is undoubtedly the better team, sporting a defense that has shown flashes and an offense that has remained productive without any semblance of a ground game or continuity with healthy linemen. Carolina’s run defense is by far the worst in the league, and its secondary doesn’t provide much optimism, regardless of how much “coach speak” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans throws its way.
As much as fans would love to see Stroud pick apart Carolina and make them regret passing on him, there’s a good chance Houston wins this one on the ground.
Both teams are coming off of their Week 7 bye weeks, and fans can rest assured that Houston has done everything in its power to address the rushing attack. There’s no better matchup for running backs Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary to hit the ground running against than the Panthers.
Look for early down runs to be in order—and if it really can’t get going—Stroud to return to his pre-bye prowess.
WHAT: Houston Texans (3-3) vs. Carolina Panthers (0-6)
WHERE: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC (74,867)
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, 12 p.m. (CDT)
TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: SportsRadio 610 AM, 100.3 FM The Bull
Get your tickets at SI Tickets
BETTING via SI Sportsbook
SPREAD: Texans -3.5,
TOTAL: 42.5
MONEYLINE: Texans -188, Panthers +150
