| MATCHUP | Los Angeles Chargers | Houston Texans |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Spread | +1.5 -115 | -1.5 -105 |
| Moneyline | +114 | -135 |
| Total | Over 36.5 (-120) | Under 36.5 (100) |
| Where | NRG Stadium, Houston, TX | |
| When | Thursday, August 13, 2026 | |
| Time | 08:00 PM EDT | |
Houston Texans Betting Preview
The Texans have made the playoffs in three straight seasons and enter year four under coach DeMeco Ryans. The Texans have yet to make it out of the divisional round in franchise history.This team is the definition of elite defense and questionable offense. With Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Derek Stingley Jr., this unit is scary and arguably the best in the league. The Texans defense is why this group is expected to come out of the AFC South.
The hesitation starts with quarterback C.J. Stroud, and whether he can replicate some of that rookie magic he had a few years ago. The offensive line was also hell last year; we’ll see if additions of Wyatt Teller and Keylan Rutledge will help. David Montgomery adds clarity to the running back room, and Nico Collins is a legit number one receiver. I want to buy Texans stock, but the OL and QB make me a little queasy.
Los Angeles Chargers Betting Preview
The Chargers have won 11 games in back-to-back seasons and enter year 3 under coach Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers bring in offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, and that could be the thing that gets this team over the top.
The Chargers are as talented offensively as any team in the league. Justin Herbert is a super talented and productive quarterback, while receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, as well as running backs Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal, have breakout potential. The offensive line held this group back, but the health of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt could remove those question marks.
Defensively should still be respectable with Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Akheem Mesidor on that side. The secondary has a five-time Pro Bowler in Derwin James. The Chargers are a playoff team that can make a deep playoff run and even come out of the AFC if everything breaks right. This is a solid team on paper.
Houston Texans vs Los Angeles Chargers Prediction
Those who have followed me over the years know my handicapping in preseason is all about the quarterback position. The rest of the positions are toss-ups, and you have no idea who is going to play nd for how long. The one constant thing is decent quarterback play and the guys who can put points on the board.
We’re not expected to see starters in this game, so that means cancel out Herbert and Stroud. Trey Lance hasn’t lived up to his draft billing from a few years ago, and while he has playmaking ability, he has accuracy and turnover issues. DJ Uiagalelei underachieved at Clemson and Florida State, so I don’t expect much at the pro ranks out of the gate. For the Texans, we have a guy in Davis Mills who has 29 career starts and 40 passing touchdowns. If he gets some burn, he can torch backup defenders. Graham Mertz was an accurate quarterback and cleaned up his mistakes in two years at Florida.
I just have more faith in the Texans’ quarterback room, and you throw in home-field advantage, I’ll lay the small number.