The Houston Texans fell short in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs last season to the New England Patriots after a 12-5 regular season record.
They play their second preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, who had the joint-worst record in the NFL last season with 3-14 but now have number one pick Fernando Mendoza under center.
These two teams both lost their first preseason games and will be looking to bounce back in this second game. The pair have both been engaging in joint practices this week and will now face off at the NRG Stadium.
Houston Texans ML (+100)
The Houston Texans lost 27-7 to the Los Angeles Chargers in their first preseason game but they could pick up a first win against the Las Vegas Raiders at the NRG Stadium.
The Texans are unlikely to risk many starters for this game but they still look a decent bet as underdogs in this matchup.
C.J. Stroud is likely to play a few series alongside running back Woody Marks and with an injury-hit receiver class, they will have to play many of their best options at wideout.
Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL this week and with Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell still recovering from injuries of their own, expect Xavier Hutchinson, Jared Wayne and Justin Watson to feature heavily.
They will come up against a Raiders’ secondary which struggled badly against the Arizona Cardinals in their first preseason game, giving up 212 passing yards, and if Stroud is in the game, he could exploit their weaknesses.
The Texans’ rookie class impressed in their opening game, with Keylan Rutledge set to play in the offensive line again here, while tight end Marlin Klein and safety Kamari Ramsey also caught the eye. Houston’s youngsters could make another big splash in this second game.
Number one pick in the NFL Draft Fernando Mendoza is the name on everybody’s lips in Las Vegas but the young quarterback’s supporting cast remains weak, particularly at receiver. If the Houston Texans can keep star tight end Brock Bowers quiet, they should have a good chance of shutting down the Raiders’ offense in general.
The Texans had the best defense in the NFL last season, allowing a league low of 277.2 yards per game, and while the majority of their starters will be rested, they are still a formidable unit under coordinator Matt Burke.
Despite the fact that the Raiders are likely to field more starters than the Texans, it’s still worth siding with Houston to come out on top on home soil considering Las Vegas’ recent struggles.
The Texans were winners when these two teams met in December and could produce a repeat performance in this preseason clash.
Under 37.5 points (-115)
Neither of these two teams could get much going offensively in their opening preseason games, with the Houston Texans managing just seven points and the Las Vegas Raiders putting up just 14.
A high-scoring shootout looks unlikely in this one as both teams get to grips with their new schemes on both offense and defense coming into the new season.
Houston’s defensive unit remains elite and they should provide a real challenge for rookie quarterback Mendoza, who will certainly not have faced many as strong as this in college.
Side with the under in a game which could have a real preseason feel.
Read more betting picks and predictions for the NFL on site.
Las Vegas Raiders vs Houston Texans odds
Las Vegas Raiders | -132 |
Houston Texans | +100 |
Spread | LV Raiders -1.5 |
Total Points | O/U 37.5 |
Read the latest NFL news on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
