Houston Texans
Houston Texans After their second straight 8-8 season, the Houston Texans have now failed to make the playoffs in each of their first seven seasons since joining the NFL in 2002. However, experts may be looking at Houston as a potential sleeper pick in 2009.

The Texans finished 2008 winning five of their last six games. Head Coach Gary Kubiak can only hope his squad carries that momentum into the start of 2009.

Odds makers appear to like Houston's chances to get over the hump and become a more competitive team as they sit at about 3/1 to win the extremely tough AFC South. Vegas also has the Texans at 10/1 to take the AFC while they are looking at about 25/1 odds to win Super Bowl XLIV.

Bettors may be a little weary about the laying down a futures bet on Houston to win a division crown with the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis
Colts standing in their way, however a wild-card berth in the post season is not out of the question. And as we have seen in years past, anything can happen in the playoffs.

This off season, the Texans focused on upgrading their defense signing free agent defensive end Antonio Smith from the Arizona Cardinals and linebacker Cato June from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the draft, Houston selected USC outside linebacker Brian Cushing in the first round and then took Cincinnati defensive end Connor Barwin in the second. Both rookies are expected to make an immediate impact in 2009.

I like the Texans as one of my dark-horse Super Bowl picks in 2009, in that a 25/1 shot would be a nice payout with a small risk. I definitely see the Texans pushing for a wild-card spot late in the season so that gives them a chance, but I don't see them overtaking both the Colts and Titans for the division.