The Las Vegas Raiders visit the Houston Texans on Thursday night in a preseason Week 2 matchup between a rebuilding AFC West club and a proven playoff team. Las Vegas sits as a short 1-point road favorite, and the total has settled at a modest 37 after both markets nudged lower. Both staffs are coming off a Tuesday joint practice, so the real handicapping question is not talent. It is playing time. Our headline lean rides on which side commits more meaningful reps once the front-line starters step aside.
Last Updated: August 20, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Houston Texans — Time & How to Watch
| Where | NRG Stadium, Houston TX |
| When | Thursday, August 20 – 8:00 PM ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Houston Texans Betting Preview
These teams are pointed in different directions. Houston went 12-5 last season and reached the postseason as a Wild Card, finishing second in the AFC South. DeMeco Ryans returns as head coach with C.J. Stroud under center. Las Vegas, by contrast, is rebuilding after a 3-14 finish. New head coach Klint Kubiak has handed the offense to veteran Kirk Cousins, with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza working behind him.
The lineup plans matter more than the logos here. After the joint practice, Houston intends to rest most starters, much as it did in the opener. Stroud may see only a handful of snaps, if any. Las Vegas is expected to lean on its backups as well. Cousins figures to play briefly at most, while Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell get extended reps, similar to the Raiders’ preseason opener against the Cardinals. The game airs nationally on ESPN. For context, Houston edged Las Vegas 23-21 in their most recent regular-season meeting last December.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Houston Texans Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raiders | -1 (-110) | -120 | U 37 (+105) |
| Texans | +1 (-110) | +100 | O 37 (-125) |
Odds accurate as of August 20, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Houston Texans — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Raiders | 40% | 60% | Texans |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Raiders vs. Texans Prediction — Can the Road Favorite Cover?
This is a coin-flip number, and the small movement tells a story. The line opened with Las Vegas laying 1.5 points, then trimmed to 1 as money arrived on Houston. Public spread tickets back the Texans at 60 percent, so both the crowd and the market have leaned toward the home side. That is worth respecting in a thin preseason market.
Still, the case for Las Vegas rests on commitment. Kubiak wants tape on a new offense, and Mendoza is a polished, high-pedigree rookie who should get a long look against Houston’s reserves. O’Connell adds a steady veteran option in the same rotation. When one side is set to give its quarterbacks extended, meaningful snaps and the other is emptying its bench early, the more invested team often plays with sharper purpose.
The counter is real. Houston’s backups come from a 12-win roster, and its defensive depth dominated the joint practice. A short number can flip on one special-teams miscue. We lean to the visitors on price and reps, but this is a light lean, not a stand.
The Pick: Raiders -1 (-110)
Raiders vs. Texans Prediction — Will the Backups Push the Total?
The total opened at 37.5 and ticked down to 37, a nod to the lineup news. With both teams resting most front-line starters, the offenses will run vanilla schemes led by backups. Preseason drives stall often in those spots, and Houston’s reserves showed real teeth on defense during the week. That points toward a lower-scoring night.
The risk cuts the other way too. Preseason totals are volatile, and a single long touchdown drive or a defensive score can swing a number this small in a hurry. Backup units also commit turnovers that flip field position and gift short scoring chances. We accept that variance and side with the trend the market is already signaling.
The Pick: Under 37 (+105)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
The swing factor is Mendoza. How long the rookie stays on the field, and how cleanly he runs the offense against Houston’s reserves, will shape both the side and the total more than any veteran cameo. If he settles in and sustains drives, the Raiders side looks stronger. If Houston’s defense keeps winning early downs, the Under gets easier. Keep an eye on the pregame inactives, since a late change to either playing-time plan can move these thin numbers.
To recap our card: we lean the Raiders -1 on the side and the Under 37 on the total. Both are modest positions that fit a preseason game where reps, not records, decide the result.
NFL Raiders vs. Texans FAQ: Thursday August 20, 2026
What time does the Raiders vs. Texans game start?
Kickoff is set for 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, August 20, 2026. The two teams held a joint practice earlier in the week before the preseason contest, which is the Raiders’ and Texans’ second exhibition of the summer.
What channel is the Raiders vs. Texans game on?
The game airs nationally on ESPN. It is one of the featured Preseason Week 2 broadcasts, with a scheduled 8:00 PM ET start from Houston.
Where are the Raiders and Texans playing?
The game is at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, the Texans’ home venue. Houston hosts this preseason meeting, so Las Vegas travels as the road team despite being the narrow betting favorite on the spread.
Who won the last meeting between the Raiders and Texans?
Houston won the most recent meeting, edging Las Vegas 23-21 at home in their December 2025 regular-season matchup. The result was one of several close finishes between the clubs and gives the Texans the more recent bragging rights entering this exhibition.