Texans vs Vikings Odds, Picks, Predictions & Who’s Playing (Preseason Week 1)

• The Minnesota Vikings are three-point favorites over the Houston Texans in NFL preseason action on Saturday
• JJ McCarthy, a 2024 first-round pick who missed all of last season with a knee injury, will start for the Vikings
• See below for my Texans vs Vikings prediction, plus betting lines and probable starters

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At this exact time last year, JJ McCarthy was exciting fans with his debut in the Minnesota Vikings’ preseason opener. Of course, that’s the last time we saw him, as he suffered a knee injury and was done for the year. The Vikes cleared the QB deck, though, and it’s McCarthy’s job to lose.

He gets his first chance this afternoon as Minnesota hosts the Houston Texans at US Bank Stadium at 4:00 pm ET, with the visitors pegged as underdogs in the latest NFL odds.

Read below for my Texans vs Vikings prediction, as well as all the odds and the players that should be suiting up for their respective teams.

Jump to: Probable Starters | Prediction | Betting Lines

Houston Texans vs Minnesota Vikings Probable Starters

All eyes have to be on McCarthy: he gets the keys to a Vikings team that went 14-3 in the regular season, and was a legitimate consideration for Super Bowl contender.

He won’t likely have many of his top skill guys, as Justin Jefferson (hamstring) is already confirmed out. Ditto for the line, with hulking right guard Will Fries potentially the only starter seeing action.

McCarthy ➡️ Addison #SKOL pic.twitter.com/LX5wRivtOT

— Vikes/erified (@VikesVV) August 2, 2025

For the Texans, head coach DeMeco Ryans only said that the younger starters would see the field.

That means starting pivot CJ Stroud will likely be sidelined, while their three-headed running back committee of Joe Mixon, Nick Chubb and Dameon Pierce are all expected to sit.

Notable Texans vs Vikings Playing Today

So we’ll see the new offense under new coordinator Nick Caley — he of the Sean McVay coaching tree — with promising rookies dotting the roster, including rookie receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylen Noel.

We’ll also likely get a glimpse of rookie tackle Aireontae Ersery, the team’s second round pick.

Texans vs Vikings Prediction

• Vikings -3 (-115)

The only tape we have of the 10th pick in the 2024 draft was last year’s preseason opener, when he lit up the Vegas Raiders for 188 yards passing and two TDs. It’s also the game he got hurt, and shelved for the year.

While sidelined, Kevin O’Connell harnessed the best season of Sam Darnold’s career, though the Vikes faltered in the Wild Card round in a loss to the Rams, opening up McCarthy’s path back to the no. 1 job.

IT IS NOW JJ MCCARTHY’S TIME.

THE MINNESOTA #VIKINGS FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK.

👀👀👀
pic.twitter.com/7vsQ2uKVKq

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 10, 2025

There’s little middle ground on McCarthy: you’re either in or you’re out. That’s a lot of pressure to put on the kid, but he will, in all likelihood, be the best talent on the field for however long he does play.

It also helps that the Texans’ dynamic pass-rushing duo of Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter won’t be there to terrorize him.

Texans vs Vikings Betting Lines

I think he’ll do enough work to settle some of the critics (or maybe that’s my hope so the pressure doesn’t mount on him). Either way, I like the Vikings by -3, and you can take them as a moneyline favorite at -170. The total check in at 38.5 points.

The NFL preseason Week 1 odds have been all over the place, especially since there’s nothing firm on who will actually play. Once Ryans did say the younger starters though, their odds went from +1.5 to the current +3.

Odds as of August 8th at FanDuel. New customers can claim the FanDuel promo code and get a bonus to bet on Texans vs Vikings.