Chirimbes laid the 2.5 with Houston in a 19-17 projection, calling DeMeco Ryans’ defense "the best unit on the field." He highlighted San Francisco’s historic 14-game interception drought—the longest in NFL history—and a lengthy injury report that leaves the Niners short-handed on both sides of the ball. With Brock Purdy under growing pressure from backup Mac Jones, Chirimbes believes the more physical Texans defense flips field position often enough to justify the small home chalk.

Hill laid the short 1.5 points with Houston. At 2-4, the Texans are treating Week 8 as a must-win. He acknowledged the 49ers’ resilience but pointed to their lingering injury cluster and believes the healthier, hungrier Texans pull out a season-saving victory.

Joyner praised Kyle Shanahan’s Coach-of-the-Year résumé for guiding a 5-2 team through constant injuries. Though Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall are questionable, he expects George Kittle to show better and believes Shanahan can scheme around the absences. Houston’s grit earns them an outright-win lean, but Joyner still grabbed San Francisco +1.5 with a confidence level 1, projecting another one-score finish.

Tuley targeted San Francisco +7.5 as the first leg of his Week 8 teaser portfolio. Houston opened ‑1.5 despite the 5-2 49ers beating Atlanta 20-10 on SNF while the Texans fell 27-19 at Seattle. Pulling the Niners six points up crosses both 3 and 7—Tuley’s preferred “teaser zone.” He reminded readers the injury-riddled Niners ‘should probably be favored’ and listed Falcons ‑1.5, Bills ‑1, Eagles ‑7.5, Patriots ‑1, Cowboys +9 and Steelers +9 as potential partners depending on shop-around prices.