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Raiders vs. Texans Prediction, Picks & Best Bets: NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds

Our Raiders vs. Texans prediction features best bets on the spread and total, plus a Thursday NFL preseason Week 2 SGP.

Corey Scott

Last updated: August 20, 2026 4:24 PM EDT • 3 min read

Pictured: Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) looks to pass as we break down our Raiders vs. Texans prediction. Photo by Thomas Shea / Imagn Images.

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My Raiders vs. Texans prediction expects Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to play, to face some regression after an impressive preseason debut. The Texans are a 1.5-point betting favorite over the Raiders, with kickoff from Reliant Stadium in Houston set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN).

🏈 Raiders vs. Texans prediction: NFL preseason Week 2

See the latest NFL odds and our experts' NFL picks for every game this season.

💰 Pick	⚖️ Units	🧠 Why I bet this
Texans -1.5 first half (+105 via DraftKings)	2.39u → 2.51u	I'm expecting regression from Mendoza after an impressive preseason debut.
First half Over 20.5 (+105 via DraftKings)	1.9u → 2u	Stroud and Marks are expected to play a few series, but the defensive starters will likely rest.

Total wagered: 4.29 units | Max profit: 4.51 units

💰 Raiders vs. Texans best bet

Texans -1.5 first half (+105)

C.J. Stroud, Woody Marks and the first-team offensive line are reportedly expected to play 20-25 plays tonight. However, the Texans' defensive starters are expected to rest. Not only is this good for the Over, but Stroud starting the game should help Houston cover the first half.

Yes, the defensive starters may not play, but Mendoza became the first No. 1 pick to throw a touchdown pass in his preseason debut since Baker Mayfield, so we may see some regression in his second preseason start. Texans -1.5 first half (+105) is the best line available among the top NFL betting sites.

Score prediction: Texans 23, Raiders 20

🚀 Raiders vs. Texans same-game parlay

The correlation here is simple. Stroud, Marks and the first-team offensive line starting should help Houston's offense cover the first half. However, since the Texans' defensive starters are expected to rest, Mendoza and the Raiders' offense should still be able to contribute to the Over hitting. We're only focusing on the first half since it's more predictable than the full-game side and total.

(DraftKings doesn't allow these two bets to be parlayed.)

💵 Raiders vs. Texans SGP picks

Texans -1.5 first half
First half Over 20.5

Best odds: +219 via FanDuel

💡 How I'm betting Raiders vs. Texans: NFL preseason strategy

Follow all of our NFL analysis and betting advice for the 2026 NFL season.

I've seen some people online claim that betting preseason is for degenerates (LOL) or that preseason is so random that you should just bet the underdog every game (which is worse than the first claim). The truth is that there are huge edges in preseason, which is why limits are so low on it. The best way to bet preseason is to focus on certain angles and get the best price possible - not just hope the variance goes your way.

💰️ More NFL preseason picks

Looking for more? Dive into LJ Blut's best bets for preseason Week 2.

📊 Raiders vs. Texans odds: NFL preseason Week 2

Our live Raiders vs. Texans odds update in real time.

🚑 Raiders vs. Texans latest injuries

🌤️ Raiders vs. Texans weather: Thursday, 8 p.m. ET

This game will be played indoors at Reliant Stadium, so weather won't be a factor for Raiders vs. Texans tonight.

📺 How to watch Raiders vs. Texans: NFL preseason Week 2

Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Reliant Stadium (Houston)
TV: ESPN

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Written By:
Corey Scott

Corey is a Publishing Editor at Sportsbook Review and holds a diploma in Radio and Television Sports Broadcasting from the College of Sports Media in Toronto. He is one of the NBA player-prop specialists at SBR and focuses on the impact of injuries to identify where the market has been slow to adjust. Corey also frequently bets sides in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and CFL, typically using a top-down approach to beat the closing line. His work has appeared across the USA Today Network, Gambling.com Group, and Athlon Sports. With more than a decade of sports betting experience, Corey is familiar with all types of operators, from regulated sportsbooks to less conventional platforms, though he primarily uses Pinnacle and FanDuel. While he rarely bets parlays anymore - unless they are clearly mispriced - his biggest win came from a seven-team parlay at +13675 odds. Corey visits Las Vegas multiple times a year. His favorite resort is the Wynn/Encore, though he can be found at any sportsbook offering an off-market number.