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NFL picks and predictions, Titans vs. Texans 2014: Houston to win the Bob McNair bowl

Experts see the Texans winning the showdown between current and former Houston football teams.

The Tennessee Titans haven't won a game in over a month and a half. If the experts are correct, the trend will continue when they travel to Houston to take on the Texans.

Three different quarterbacks have started for the Titans this year. Former first-round pick Jake Locker lasted three starts before getting sidelining with a hand injury. Though replacement Charlie Whitehurst can drive any vehicle to its limit, he's not particularly good at playing football. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt was eventually compelled to make another change, turning over the controls to Zach Mettenberger. Though he's played well for a rookie, Mettenberger has taken too many costly sacks and tossed nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns.

But the Titans aren't the only team around with quarterback issues. After weeks of decent, yet unexceptional play from journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, head coach Bill O'Brien gave fourth-year signal caller Ryan Mallett a look. Though he completed only 54.7 percent of his passes, the Texans offense functioned better with Mallett under center. Unfortunately, he tore a pectoral during Houston's Week 12 game against the Bengals and will miss the rest of the season. Though Fitzpatrick will start once again, the Texans still have J.J. Watt, destroyer of worlds, leading its defense.

Unsurprisingly, the experts are all in on Houston this week. Each member of CBS Sports’ eight-man panel sided with Watt and the Texans.

CBS Sports senior writer Pete Prisco had this to say about the game:

With Ryan Mallett out for the season, it’s back to Ryan Fitzpatrick for the Texans. The Titans will counter with rookie Zach Mettenberger, who played well at Philadelphia last week. Even with Fitzpatrick back, I expect the Texans to win this with their running game.

Here at SB Nation, all seven of our experts are leaning toward the Texans.

Ryan Van Bibber Stephen White David Fucillo Danny Kelly PFT Commenter Matt Ufford Joel Thorman
TEN vs. HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU HOU
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