Raiders vs Texans Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NFL Preseason Game

The Las Vegas Raiders, led by No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza after a standout preseason Week 1 debut, visit the Houston Texans on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET at Reliant Stadium, airing on ESPN. Houston is a 1.5-point home favorite, with Kalshi probabilities listing Texans -1.5 at 49%. The preview expects DeMeco Ryans’ defense to pressure Mendoza, especially if the Raiders use a young second unit; even if Houston removes starters after a series or two, the Texans’ depth could limit scoring. A suggested “top pick” is the Under 39.5, citing Houston’s Week 1 struggles and overall low scoring.