VSiN Primetime | August 20, 2026 | Hour 2

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
This is VSiN Primetime, live from the Circus Sportsbook in downtown Las Vegas on VSiN, the SportsBetting Network.

**Tim Murray** (0:12)
About to get underway down in Houston as the Raiders and Texans about to kick things off preseason week number two. Matt, we're still time to bet in on this preseason game, and who better to talk to Matt than Chuck Edel, who joins us right now, courtesy of our Progressive Guest Line. And right now, Chuck, as this game is about to kick off, you have the Raiders as around one and a half or two point favorites. Let's start with the side before we get to the total. With Fernando Mendoza playing the expected play the first half here, maybe even a little bit more. What side do you look at here with Raiders $1.30 on the money line around one and a half point favorites against Houston?

**Chuck Edel** (0:52)
Yeah, I did make a little bit of a play on the Raiders in this game. That one thing that kind of stood out to me here was the second half for Houston. You're going to see that Brett Rippen playing in the second half and how this guy is still in the NFL. I don't know. I've seen him play for many years and he just can't play. So you're going to see him. Not only are you going to see him, he just got signed this week. Now he is familiar with the offensive coordinator for Houston, but still bringing him in. He's probably going to play the second half here.
Defensive starters are not going to play for Houston in this game. The starters will get on the field here for a few series, but mainly I was on the Raiders here for the reason, I think they got a big edge in the second half. And it's also something to look at after this first half.
I'm very curious to see what the line will open up after the second half, depending on the situation.

**Matt Youmans** (1:45)
It's interesting, Chuck. I thought the Raiders quarterback play looked pretty good in the first week. The defense was a disaster. And if you watch the Texans first preseason game, there wasn't much positive to take away from it. The quarterback play was pretty weak. And a quarterback play should not be great tonight after CJ Stroud, like you mentioned it. What do you think the Raiders are going to do defensively? I noticed Max Crosby is not playing again tonight. That's no surprise here.
Did you do anything with the total you were talking? We were talking about this early today. You thought about playing the first half total. Did you play the first half of the game total?

**Chuck Edel** (2:19)
I just played the first half over and that was my big play today. I played over the first half. I missed the 20 I did get 20.5. I went over the 20.5. Again, you got Houston starters playing. I expect them to do something against, like you said, the Raider defense, it seems to be on their heels a little bit. I expect the Raiders offense to be able to do something against the backup defense for Houston.
No starters are playing for the defense for Houston. They're going to have the backups out there. So I expect or hope for some points to be scored. And Mills isn't the worst backup. I know he didn't look well last week. But this is a team who generally is able to move the ball. They did lose one of their stud-wide receivers unfortunately yesterday.

**Matt Youmans** (3:07)
The Iceman, Chuck Edel, Friday Football Invitational Champ in 2024 We have an announcement on that contest coming up soon here on VSiN Raiders.
Right now, two-point favorites at Circa, a total of 40 Raiders. Texans about to kick off. This is a big game tonight. Look at this, Tim. On ESPN, we got Laura Rutledge on the sideline. You got Troy Aikman and Joe Buck in the booth. Tim, it feels like a real Monday night football game.

**Tim Murray** (3:31)
It's starting to feel that way. We're getting getting ready for the season.

**Matt Youmans** (3:33)
Or a Thursday night football game, whichever way you want to look at. How about later tonight, Chuck?
Niners and Chargers. There's been some news come out about Kyle Shanahan and what his plan is tonight. Niners have flipped a one and a half point favorites. Total of 38 or so. Did you do anything with San Francisco, LA?

**Chuck Edel** (3:51)
Yeah, I didn't do anything with the game. I do know some sharp guys who did take the Chargers in the first half. Herbert's gonna start. He's probably only gonna play one series. And Shanahan was tipping his hand a little bit that he might, you know, he's gonna play his starters and looks like we'll see Purdy in there for a little while as well. But I didn't feel like anything concrete there.