2026 NFL Preseason: Week 2 Picks

The Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans kick off Week 2 of the NFL preseason on Thursday night with a contest at NRG Stadium. The Texans are coming off a 27-7 preseason-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but head coach DeMeco Ryans announced that all healthy, cleared starters will take the field. The Raiders look to bounce back from a 27-14 opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals with No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza expected to log significant playing time under center.

LAS VEGAS AT HOUSTON ODDS, GAME TIME

• Game Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
• Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
• Location: Houston, TX
• Stadium: NRG Stadium
• Favorite: Houston Texans
• Underdog: Las Vegas Raiders
• Over/Under: 39.5
• Point Spread: Houston (-1.5)

HOW TO WATCH LAS VEGAS AT HOUSTON

• TV Channel: ESPN

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR LAS VEGAS AT HOUSTON

Dunkel Ratings: Las Vegas 116.142; Houston 113.203
Dunkel Line & Total: Las Vegas by 3; 35
Vegas Line & Total: Houston by 1 1/2; 39 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Las Vegas (+1 1/2); Under

Below are all of Dunkel's Picks for Week 2 of the NFL Preseason schedule:

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SAN FRANCISCO AT LA CHARGERS

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 125.099; LA Chargers 122.167
Dunkel Line & Total: San Francisco by 3; 41
Vegas Line & Total: LA Chargers by 1 1/2; 38 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+1 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NY JETS AT PITTSBURGH

Date: Friday, August 21, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: NY Jets 118.842; Pittsburgh 128.637
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 10; 36
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 3 1/2; 39 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-3 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CAROLINA AT JACKSONVILLE

Date: Friday, August 21, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 111.178; Jacksonville 123.998
Dunkel Line & Total: Jacksonville by 13; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Jacksonville by 2 1/2; 39 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville (-2 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR GREEN BAY AT DENVER

Date: Friday, August 21, 2026
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Green Bay 119.397; Denver 132.858
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 13 1/2; 47
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 7 1/2; 39 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-7 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR WASHINGTON AT DETROIT

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 108.646; Detroit 117.820
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 9; 35
Vegas Line & Total: Detroit by 4 1/2; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-4 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR ATLANTA AT INDIANAPOLIS

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 116.464; Indianapolis 115.403
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 1; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Indianapolis by 3 1/2; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+3 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR BUFFALO AT CLEVELAND

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 120.414; Cleveland 119.053
Dunkel Line & Total: Buffalo by 1 1/2; 43
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 3; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+3); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR BALTIMORE AT MINNESOTA

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore 127.580; Minnesota 124.776
Dunkel Line & Total: Baltimore by 3; 33
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 3; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+3); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NEW ORLEANS AT LA RAMS

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 118.206; LA Rams 121.292
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Rams by 3; 29
Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 1 1/2; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Rams (+1 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NY GIANTS AT MIAMI

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: NY Giants 128.571; Miami 118.609
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Giants by 10; 34
Vegas Line & Total: NY Giants by 2 1/2; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Giants (-2 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR PHILADELPHIA AT NEW ENGLAND

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 116.453; New England 121.396
Dunkel Line & Total: New England by 5; 45
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia by 2 1/2; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New England (+2 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CHICAGO AT CINCINNATI

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 123.042; Cincinnati 124.551
Dunkel Line & Total: Cincinnati by 1 1/2; 45
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 2 1/2; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+2 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR KANSAS CITY AT TAMPA BAY

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City 121.236; Tampa Bay 120.103
Dunkel Line & Total: Kansas City by 1; 31
Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 5 1/2; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+5 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR DALLAS AT ARIZONA

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 114.902; Arizona 122.282
Dunkel Line & Total: Arizona by 7 1/2; 31
Vegas Line & Total: Arizona by 1 1/2; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-1 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SEATTLE AT TENNESSEE

Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle 115.381; Tennessee 122.903
Dunkel Line & Total: Tennessee by 7 1/2; 35
Vegas Line & Total: Tennessee by 3; 38 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee (-3); Under