Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals - Stroud vs. Burrow: How to Watch, Betting Odds

The Houston Texans head north to Cincinnati to face the Bengals in a battle between top quarterbacks.

The Texans head north to Cincinnati to face the Bengals in a battle between top quarterbacks and former Buckeyes, Joe Burrow and C.J. Stroud.

Call it the Ohio State connection, as Burrow spent three seasons in Columbus and got his degree, then transferred to LSU when Dwayne Haskins won the starting job in 2018. It worked out well for Burrow, who won a national title, the Heisman Trophy, and was the overall No. 1 pick in 2020 by the Bengals.

“I always said I went to school at Ohio State, and I played football at LSU,” Burrow said this week. “That’s how I think about it.”

Stroud was a two-year starter in Columbus, breaking school records, and a two-time Heisman finalist in 2021 and 2022. He was, of course, the second overall pick by the Texans in this year's NFL Draft. 

CJ Stroud (L) and Joe Burrow / Clutchpoints

Both were groomed by Ryan Day at Ohio State, who is considered one of the best quarterback coaches in the country.

Stroud said he and Burrow discussed their college bonds over the summer.

“A lot of things to learn from that guy,” Stroud said this week. “He’s a hell of a leader and a really good person — somebody that only isn’t looking out for himself. He shot me a text over the year congratulating me on some of the success and things like that. ... He had a lot of great advice for me that I'm still using to this day."

Stroud and the Texans have won four of their last six and have already won more games than Houston did all of last season - with nine games left. In last week's 39-37 win over the Buccaneers, Stroud set an NFL record for passing yards by a rookie in a single game with 470 and five touchdowns.

“They’ve done a good job structuring the offense around him and getting the most out of him, and he’s playing at a really high level," Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said.

"You can see the confidence in the receivers and the tight ends.”

WHAT: Houston Texans (4-4, 1-3 Away) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-3, 3-1 Home)

WHERE: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH (65,515)

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, 12 p.m. CT

TELEVISION: CBS / FuboTV (try it free)

RADIO: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM) | 100.3 The Bull

Get your tickets at SI Tickets

Betting via SI SportsBook

SPREAD: Texans +6.5

TOTAL: 46.5

MONEYLINE: Texans +230, Bengals -300