Miami Dolphins predictions: How are NFL experts picking Week 9 game vs. Houston Texans?

The Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans are playing Sunday in a game most bettors are avoiding.

It's understandable if viewers are staying away, too. The Dolphins and Texans are both 1-7 this season, with both teams on seven-game losing skids since winning their season opener. (Miami beat the New England Patriots on the road; Houston crushed the Jacksonville Jaguars at home.)

But there is plenty of intrigue around this game. Tua Tagovailoa is officially at the helm for the Dolphins after the team did not trade for Deshaun Watson, the Texans' nominal starting quarterback who hasn't played this season as nearly two dozen women have sued him over sexual assault accusations.

On the Texans' sideline, QB Tyrod Taylor, who started in their Week 1 win, is expected to play for the first time since injuring in hamstring in Week 2.

Live updates: Jacoby Brissett starts for Dolphins vs. Texans. Follow the latest from Hard Rock Stadium

Palm Beach Post staff picks: Will the Dolphins get a win against the lowly Texans? Here's what our reporters think

Work ahead: With no Deshaun Watson trade completed, can Dolphins offense be fixed?

Here's a look at what NFL experts are predicting:

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Dolphins 24-20

The Texans might be getting Tyrod Taylor back to start at quarterback. They should stay in this game because of the Dolphins' defensive woes allowing them to have some success running and passing. Tua Tagovailoa is leading more of grinding pass-heavy offense than a big-play one and Miami is incapable of running away with the game.

Ian Kenyon, Bleacher Report: Dolphins 27-20

The Dolphins have lost seven straight games but have looked far more competent in the past couple of weeks with the return of Tua Tagovailoa. They face a Texans team that looked like a potential surprise team after a week 1 win over Jacksonville but has since seen the wheels completely fall off and has its best player on offense upset after the team just moved running back Mark Ingram. The rebuilding Texans have the NFL's worst roster, and there's no reason to believe they'll stay within a touchdown of the Dolphins.

Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Texans 21-17

The 1-7 Miami Dolphins are a touchdown favorite in the ultimate draft pick revenge game. The Dolphins took all the Texans picks for Laremy Tunsil and now the two get to battle over more draft picks, with the Dolphins desperate to not surrender a top-five pick for moving up to grab Jaylen Waddle (just like the Texans, the Dolphins didn't think they could possibly finish with a bottom-five record). This game is just wild. We have maybe Davis Mills, depending on whether Tyrod Taylor comes back or not. And we have Tua Tagovailoa's confidence completely destroyed by the Dolphins interest in trading for the Texans inactive third-string (?) quarterback, Deshaun Watson. For me it's pretty simple: if Tyrod plays, I want the Texans catching a touchdown and if not it's a stay away.

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: Texans 24-20

If two of the most dysfunctional teams in the NFL meet in a game that no one watches, does it make a sound?

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dolphins 9-7

Speaking of teams who don’t score much, the Texans have the fewest points in the NFL and the Dolphins have the fourth-fewest in the AFC. But there’s another problem. They each have given up more points than any team in the AFC and all but one in the NFL.

Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com: Dolphins 24-20

When I was under the impression Davis Mills would start this game for Houston, I wasn't willing to take the 6.5 points of bait on the Texans' side. Houston is the rare team that won't be able to pressure Tua Tagovailoa , and I figured Brian Flores would cook up enough third-down heat to force Mills into rookie mistakes. So, at initial publishing, this space predicted a 28-17 Dolphins win. But on Thursday, Texans coach David Culley announced Tyrod Taylor would retake the quarterbacking reins. The line changed — dropping a point to 5.5 — and so did my calculation. Taylor looked terrific in his six quarters of play before injury. He dramatically upgrades this Texans offense, so I'm not comfortable giving away too many points in a matchup of one-win teams.

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Dolphins 19-16

This will be ugly. Two of the three worst scoring offenses in the NFL are on the same field. Both teams have lost seven straight games, and the Texans and Dolphins each have a -4 turnover ratio. Take the home team in a brutal-to-watch game.

Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk: Dolphins 17-16

With the winless Lions on their bye, the two worst teams that are playing this week are playing each other. I’ll take the Dolphins to win a close and ugly game.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Dolphins 27-10

This is the dog game of the week. Miami has really struggled, which is a surprise, but the Texans are right there with them, which isn't. At home, Miami will find a way to end a six-game losing streak behind a solid day by Tua Tagovailoa.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins vs. Texans predictions: NFL experts pick Week 9 game