VSiN Countdown to Kickoff | October 18, 2026

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

This is VSiN, the SportsBetting Network. This is Countdown to Kickoff on VSiN, the SportsBetting Network.

Stormy Buonantony (0:15)

What is going on, everybody? Happy week six as we welcome you in to VSiN's Countdown to Kickoff. Stormy Buonantony, Jonathan Von Tobel with you live from downtown Las Vegas, Circa Resort and Casino, home of the world's largest sports book, where we've already got a ton of people at the book, because international action under way right now, JVT. Houston up 24-21 with about a minute to go in the third quarter, so we will take you through the rest of this game. We'll preview each and every game still to come later on today, especially of course that early window we've got coming up. Tom Byrne is going to join us in 30 minutes of SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio, get some of his favorite plays today and of course our Best Bets as well. Injuries, line moves, chaos already. What's going on? How are you today? Good morning.

Jonathan Von Tobel (0:55)

Just as we expected, 600 total yards of offense 45 points out there on the field between the Texans and the Jags. We're already over the pre-flop total here. This has been a fun game. It's been back and forth and a good showing for the most part for the Houston Texans offense. They are being outgained right now, but Stormy averaging well over seven yards per play, and they're getting another chunk play on the ground. In fact, they're going to get a touchdown it looks like right now.

This is going to be a 10-point lead barring an extra point miss for the Houston Texans with 50 seconds left to go in the third quarter, 7.6 yards per play that mark up to. Now as well, Jordan, excuse me, gets a 25-yard run. Explosives, they get it here against Jacksonville. So look, Houston, we talked about this. They start over three last year and then they get off to that run that they go on and they get to the playoffs, look like maybe the best team in the NFL. Now you have Nico Collins healthy. The offense started to look a little bit better. You added Marvin Harrison Jr. Maybe, just maybe, they're about to dig themselves out of this hole here and maybe become a contender. Harrison Jr., by the way, three receptions, 34 yards and be long of 14 today.

Stormy Buonantony (1:52)

Jalen Noel been the star of the show in the receiving game, though, for Houston. Four catches for 107 yards and a touchdown, of course. The Texans team, it feels like that, yeah, they kind of broke through last week against the lowly Titans team. I made the joke, like, smart play by D'Amico Ryan to say, you know what, I'm going to take over play calling duties this week and it worked out really well for them, but maybe that can be the game that just, we just needed to get a W and now you can take off from there. So again, we will monitor this game as we go.

Lots of quarterback news coming in to today, JVT, no Lamar Jackson, no Jalen Hurts either with the blood clot in his calf. So he's going to be out and definitely officially placed on injured reserve. Saquon Barkley also out once again for the Philadelphia Eagles today. No Baker Mayfield. However, we do get a couple of quarterbacks back. Looks like Michael Penick Jr. is going to play for the Atlanta Falcons. Caleb Williams back in a Bears uniform this week as well.

Jonathan Von Tobel (2:46)

Yeah, this is going to be, I think, one of the better games of the day. It looks like it's going to be a fun shootout between these two. We know how good this offense has looked for the Atlanta Falcons and Michael Penick at the controls. And then, of course, we know about the upside of Chicago's offense, specifically when Williams is out there. But they're just one of the more well coordinated offenses in the National Football League. So you look at it right now, pre-flopped total 51 and a half. Not surprising that it was bet up from 49 and a half, considering the status of the two quarterbacks became a little bit more positive. And it's exactly what you think. Pretty much a coin flip. We've got Circa to pick, other spots are like one and a half juice to various sides. So this looks like it's going to be a high variance game. And you know, it reminds me of this with NBA season right around the corner. You get those like late night West Conference, Western Conference, like, hey, it's like Utah and Sacramento and it's a two and a half point spread. And the total is like two forty five and a half. Why would you bet pre-flop anything there when in game you could probably find something that's worth your while, you know?