After defeating the Atlanta Falcons 20-10 at Levi’s Stadium last Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers are on the road again in Week 8 for an interconference battle with the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

Injuries have ravaged the 49ers through the first half of their 2025 campaign, but they’ve found a way to stay afloat, going 5-2 and fighting for a top spot in the division and conference. San Francisco will be without starting quarterback Brock Purdy once again on Sunday, but backup Mac Jones has done a great job in his place, leading them to a 4-1 record in his starts.

Houston’s offense has been mediocre this year, and things will be even harder for them this week, as they’ll be without wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk. That means quarterback C.J. Stroud will have to lean on Xavier Hutchinson, Braxton Berrios and rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel at the position this week.

Before these two teams meet on the field on Sunday afternoon, we’ve gone through picks from over 35 experts from multiple different sites/publications to see who they’re taking in this matchup. Let’s take a look at what they said.

Here are all the top expert picks for 49ers vs. Texans in Week 8:

Jarrett Bell: 49ers 23-20Nick Brinkerhoff: 49ers 24-16Chris Bumbaca: Texans 17-14Nate Davis: 49ers 23-20Tyler Dragon: 49ers 25-22Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: 49ers 20-16Stephania Bell: 49ersMatt Bowen: 49ersMike Clay: TexansJeremy Fowler: 49ersDan Graziano: TexansKalyn Kahler: 49ersPamela Maldonado: 49ersEric Moody: 49ersJason Reid: 49ersLindsey Thiry: 49ersSeth Wickersham: TexansPete Prisco: TexansCody Benjamin: 49ersJared Dubin: 49ersRyan Wilson: 49ersJohn Breech: 49ersTyler Sullivan: 49ersDave Richard: 49ersJamey Eisenberg: 49ersGary Davenport: 49ersBrad Gagnon: 49ersKris Knox: 49ersMoe Moton: 49ersBrent Sobleski: 49ersIan Hanford: 49ersWes O’Donnell: TexansAlbert Breer: TexansClare Brennan: 49ersMitch Goldich: 49ersGilberto Manzano: 49ersConor Orr: 49ersJohn Pluym: 49ersMatt Verderame: 49ersBill Bender: 49ers 22, Texans 20

“The Texans are favored on a short week, which is an interesting play. The 49ers’ defense allowed 10 points to the Falcons, and Christian McCaffrey had 201 all-purpose yards. That’s still a solid challenge for Houston, who is 1-1 S/U at home this season. How will C.J. Stroud respond here?”

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