The preseason continues this weekend, and on Friday night the Houston Texans will visit the defending Super Bowl champions, the L.A. Rams.
The Rams took down their crosstown rival Los Angeles Changers 29-22 in Week 1, while the Texans took down the New Orleans Saints 17-13.
Which team will move to 2-0 in the preseason?
Check out our NFL preseason picks and predictions for the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams on Friday, August 19 to find out.
Texans vs Rams odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
The Rams opened -1.5, but the line has swung all the way to +2 at current. There is also a +2.5 available. The total opened at 37.5 but has been bet up to 38.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until kickoff and be sure to check out the full NFL odds before placing your bets.
Texans vs Rams predictions
Predictions made on 8/18/2022 at 8:10 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Texans vs Rams game info
• Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
• Date: Friday, August 19, 2022
• Kickoff: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NFL Network
Texans at Rams betting preview
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Betting trend to know
The Texans are 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games. Find more NFL betting trends for Texans vs. Rams.
Texans vs Rams picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Spread analysis
For the first time since 2019, a quarterback other than Bryce Perkins will get a taste of live action in the preseason. Perkins has started and finished the last four preseason games for his team, but that streak will come to an end Friday night. Head coach Sean McVay announced that backup Matthew Stafford’s backup, John Wolford, will start.
Fourth-stringer Luis Perez was released earlier this week, meaning the playing time will boil down to Wolford, who likely plays the first half — and Perkins — who is expected to play the second half. Wolford has not played in a game since the 2020 playoffs and this seems like McVay’s plan to shake the dust off his second-string quarterback.
Perkins played well last week, throwing for 133 yards and two scores while adding another 39 yards and a score on the ground. Considering Wolford has been in the system for some time and is ahead of Perkins on the pecking order, I’m expecting this offense to function properly.
Texans’ coach Lovie Smith has kept information a little tighter, but he did mention that QB Davis Mills will get more playing time this week after playing only two series in the opener. The other starters didn’t see the field at all in Week 1, but many are expected to be dressed on Friday.
How much action do the starters see? That’s the question. Smith said that he plans to ramp up their rep counts by the final preseason game, so I’m not anticipating the starters to play heavy minutes until Week 3.
I’m opting to take the Rams at a discounted price. The line movement is concerning, but as far as I can tell it’s an overreaction to the Texans’ plans to give the starters minutes.
Smith has gone on record saying the final preseason game is the one in which they’ll treat like a dress rehearsal, not this one. The line moved to +3 and +3.5 for a brief period of time, but very quickly was bought down again. I agree with that buyback. Give me the Rams plus the points.
Prediction: Rams +2.5 (-113 at Unibet)
Over/Under analysis
The total has also seen some fluctuation in the market, opening at 37.5 but moving a full point to 38.5 at current. Is that line movement justified?
Considering that Overs went 14-3 in Week 1 of the preseason, it’s understandable that bettors are looking for points yet again this week. The books have adjusted in kind, raising totals by a few points. That hasn’t stopped bettors from flooding the Over anyway — hence the line movement.
I believe this could be an overreaction in the market and will yet again look the other way of the line movement. It’s still a preseason game, after all, and this total is somewhere between three to 4.5 points higher than it would have been this time last week.
As far as the offenses go, QB Davis Mills will see more snaps this week for the Texans. Is that really a good thing? He averaged just 6.8 yards per attempt a year ago while tossing 16 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Granted, he was a rookie, but those numbers don’t inspire confidence in a prolific offensive attack. Backup Jeff Driskell threw three interceptions and managed just 6.3 yards per attempt in the first preseason game.
The Rams do have a dangerous passing attack, but it’s unlikely that many key pieces to a lot of playing time. They’ll begin the game without their top three running backs and only two wide receivers caught a pass in the first preseason game — so it’s fair to question whether or not the skill position players they’ll be trotting out on Friday will be of the lethal variety.
I’ll take the Under at this inflated number.
Prediction: Under 38.5 (-110 at bet365)
Best bet
In a preseason game, I generally tend to start my handicapping with the underdog. Volatility is to be expected in these games with an odd allotment of backup players, some of whom are fighting for a roster spot. Therefore, I’m inclined to take the points with the underdog unless there’s a strong reason not to.
I don’t have confidence in the Texans’ side. They’ll be playing their (bad) starter for a more series in Week 2? Cool. Not enthused.
The line movement seems like an overreaction to me and therefore I’ll take the Rams. Both backup quarterbacks have been in the McVay system for a few years and therefore inspire a small amount of confidence. Sometimes, a minuscule amount of faith is all you need when betting on the preseason.
Pick: Rams +2.5 (-113 at Unibet)
