How much will No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza play for the Raiders when they face the Texans in Houston tonight? That’s the key question as we examine Raiders vs. Texans odds, picks, and predictions.
Mendoza handled four series in his preseason debut, completing 10-of-16 pass attempts for 97 yards and a short TD pass to Jack Bech in the 27-14 loss to Arizona.
Houston owns one of the NFL’s best defenses, but head coach DeMeco Ryans indicated starters, including Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, and CB Derek Stingley will not play tonight.
Raiders vs. Texans Odds at Kalshi
The money line flipped in favor of Las Vegas at Kalshi, which also offers tight odds on the total:
Moneyline
Raiders 51% (-104)
Texans 50% (+100)
Total
OVER 38.5 points
Yes 50% (+100)
No 51% (-104)
Best Bet for Raiders vs. Texans
UNDER 38.5 (-104)
According to a Kalshi News update today, Houston quarterback CJ Stroud is among the starters who won’t play tonight. On the other side of the field, Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak has veteran Kirk Cousins as the starter at QB. But he indicated that Mendoza will get significant reps in relief.
Despite his backup status entering the regular season, Mendoza remains among the favorites to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. Even with the Texans resting their defensive studs, Houston’s second-team unit is solid.
Jadeveon Clowney is back with the team that drafted him, and the veteran defensive end should put plenty of pressure on either Las Vegas quarterback tonight.
Based on both teams’ performances in their respective openers, the pathway to an OVER tonight looks problematic. The Texans managed just one touchdown in their 27-7 loss to the Chargers. As mentioned, the Raiders scored just 14 points against a bad Arizona defense.
Best Raiders vs. Texans Player Prop
Davis Mills OVER 100+ Passing Yards (+170)
Davis Mills is a capable backup with plenty of familiarity starting under center. He made four starts last year in relief of the injured Stroud. Mills threw for 100+ yards in all of those appearances.
Mills completed 9-of-15 passes for 82 yards and a TD against the Chargers, who own one of the NFL’s five best defenses in preseason rankings. Las Vegas, meanwhile, checked in at No. 25.
Mills is again expected to see the majority of action after third-string quarterback Graham Mertz suffered a torn ACL against Los Angeles. New addition Brett Rypien is expected to see some action in the second half.
The Raiders notably gave up a total of 220 passing yards to the Cardinals in their opener, with Gardner Minshew finishing with 101 yards.
The post Raiders vs. Texans Odds, Picks & Predictions for Thursday, August 20 appeared first on CasinoBeats.
How much will No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza play for the Raiders when they face the Texans in Houston tonight? That’s the key question as we examine Raiders vs. Texans odds, picks, and predictions. Mendoza handled four series in his preseason debut, completing 10-of-16 pass attempts for 97 yards and a short TD pass
The post Raiders vs. Texans Odds, Picks & Predictions for Thursday, August 20 appeared first on CasinoBeats.