Oakland Raiders vs. Houston Texans 2017: Prediction, Betting Odds, Preview For AFC Wild Card Game

The Oakland Raiders (12-4) return to the postseason for the first time in 14 years was supposed to be treated with more hope and fanfare. They had an MVP candidate in quarterback Derek Carr leading one of the league’s most potent offenses and were on pace to not only host a playoff game but potentially have home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Instead, with Carr out due to a broken leg and second-stringer Matt McGloin injuring his shoulder Sunday, Oakland could start rookie quarterback Connor Cook and now stands as a 3.5-point underdog before hitting the road to face the AFC South champion Houston Texans (9-7) Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium.

There has been no official announcement, but “the expectation” is for Cook to start over McGloin, NFL Network reported.

The Raiders, though, would be bigger underdogs if Houston had a much stronger starting quarterback than Brock Osweiler to complement one of the NFL’s better defenses. Texans head coach Bill O’Brien announced Tuesday that Osweiler will start over of Tom Savage, who took over for the struggling Osweiler in Week 15 and seemingly had the starting job throughout the postseason. Savage is still dealing with a concussion and is in the league’s concussion protocol, making it highly unlikely he returns to face Oakland.

Houston, seeking its first playoff win since the 2012 season, will likely rely on its No. 1 ranked defense with Osweiler under center. The Texans were first in the NFL in total yards allowed and 11th in points allowed, despite losing star defensive end J.J. Watt to a back injury and forcing only 17 total turnovers, tied for No. 26 in the NFL.

McGloin went down in Sunday’s 24-6 regular season finale loss to Denver and reportedly had an MRI Monday on his left, non-throwing shoulder and head coach Jack Del Rio sounded positive about McGloin’s possible return against Houston.

“I know he had an MRI, but usually if there’s a problem, they come up and let me know,” Del Rio told reporters Monday. “I think it’s just sore. I think it was banged pretty good and just sore.”

Sore or not, McGloin wasn’t quite sharp against the Broncos top-rated pass and pass rushing defense.

Though it finished tied for the third-best record in the league, Oakland enters its first playoff game since 2002’s Super Bowl appearance after a meager showing at Denver that didn’t boost hopes of a deep playoff run. McGloin went 6-for-11 for 21 yards before he went down, while Cook entered any game since his final snaps with Michigan State at last year’s Cotton Bowl and went 14-for-21 for 150 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

The Raiders 221 finished with total offensive yards, committed three turnovers, and the rushing attack picked up only 57 yards, a far cry from the group that ranked seventh in the NFL with 26 points per game and sixth with 120.1 rushing yards a contest.

Betting Odds: Houston -3.5 points

Over/Under: 37 points

Prediction: Houston over Oakland, 20-13