As we correctly predicted, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers started the 2025 NFL season with a win. They won (and covered the 1.5-point spread) against the Atlanta Falcons on the road. From Georgia, they’re traveling to Texas in Week 2 to try and beat the Houston Texans, a team that started the new campaign with a 14:9 loss to the LA Rams in California.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans Week 2 Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +132 |
| Houston Texans | -152 |
| Spread | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3 | -119 |
| Houston Texans -3 | -101 |
| Total Points | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 46.5 | -110 |
| Under 46.5 | -110 |
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas
- Date: Monday, September 15, 2025
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ABC
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Odds Suggest They’ll Win in Week 2
The Bucs are coming to Texas bearing the role of a 3-point underdog. That’s kind of surprising, given that they did okay in their first game of the season. The Buccaneers edged out Atlanta 23:20 in Week 1 thanks to Baker Mayfield’s poise and Mike Evans’ big plays downfield.
Their QB went 17-for-32 for 167 yards and three TDs, without any interceptions. Two of his throws were caught by Emeka Egbuka (wide receiver), while the third one was a TD by Bucky Irving (running back). Mike Evans (wide receiver) also did okay, showing that the Bucs are a real powerhouse when it comes to receiving.
In Week 1, Tampa Bay’s defense rose when it counted: Haason Reddick created havoc with relentless pressure, and Antoine Winfield Jr. cemented the win with a clutch pass breakup. Zyon McCollum’s tackles and near-interceptions added stability. Still, tackling consistency and red-zone communication need tightening if the Bucs want to stop C.J. Strout & Co. in the MNF game.
Houston’s Offense Needs to Up Their Game ASAP
Houston’s offense sputtered in Week 1, the result of which is that the team lost 14:9 to the LA Rams. It could’ve been even worse, but their defense did okay in some stages of the game.
Their offense, however, was horrible in that game. The Texans’ struggling offensive line undercut C.J. Stroud, who couldn’t finish drives with missing receivers and zero touchdowns. Plus, one of his passes got intercepted.
Rushing-wise, they didn’t do much better either, even though they were expected to. The QB is a fine runner who made five carries that day but couldn’t produce any TDs. Nick Chubb, their star RB, made 13 carries for 60 yards, but none of those resulted in a TD.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans Prediction
Chubb made his Houston debut with 60 yards but no TDs, meaning that he’s probably super motivated to pass the line for the first time since November 2024. The trouble is that his first TD as a Texan might not happen in Week 2 as the Bucs’ defense does a great job at defending against running backs – in 2024, Tampa Bay boasted a top-five run defense.
The Texans might try to utilize Strout’s passing ability more, but that probably won’t work great either. Instead, Tampa’s defense should be able to keep them to under 20 points. What about the other way around?
Given that the Bucs’ passing game has been sensational, we can see them scoring 3+ TDs again. And that should be more than enough to get a win.
Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers