Two NFL Preseason games Thursday night offer sharp parlay value. Here are the best combinations from the Raiders-Texans and 49ers-Chargers matchups.
Thursday Night National Football League Preseason Parlay Picks - August 20
Thursday brings us a pair of National Football League Preseason matchups that are worth targeting for parlay value. With two games kicking off at 21:00 and 23:00 ET respectively, we have enough market depth to build some smart combinations. Preseason betting rewards discipline - focus on totals and spreads rather than chasing big moneyline swings, and look for spots where the market may be overvaluing a home-field edge that matters far less in exhibition play.
Important note on form: Preseason form data is unavailable for this article, so our analysis leans on roster context, coaching tendencies, and market signals from the live odds.
Game 1: Las Vegas Raiders @ Houston Texans (Thu 21:00 ET)
The Texans open as modest -1.5 home favourites, available at -105 with Hard Rock Bet, while the Raiders get +1.5 at the same price with FanDuel. In NFL Preseason, a 1.5-point spread is essentially a pick'em - the market is telling you these rosters are nearly identical in quality for a Thursday night exhibition.
The total sits at 39.5, and we lean Under 39.5 (-102 at DraftKings). Preseason games routinely feature conservative play-calling, heavy rotation of backups, and defensive gameplanning that prioritises installation over aggression. Both Houston and Las Vegas figure to hold back key starters - CJ Stroud and company won't be taking many risks, and the Raiders' roster is in a transitional phase under their current setup. Unders historically hit at a strong rate in mid-preseason games when teams are deep into roster evaluation mode.
The Raiders +1.5 at -105 (FanDuel) also carries quiet value. Las Vegas teams tend to keep things tight in preseason when pride is on the line for bubble players, and a 1.5-point cushion essentially means you just need the game to be competitive. This is a live cover candidate.
Game 2: San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Chargers (Thu 23:00 ET)
The Chargers open as -1.5 home favourites at an eye-catching +100 with Hard Rock Bet - meaning you're getting even money on a favourite covering a tiny spread. That's a value flag worth noting. The 49ers get +1.5 at -110 with Bally Bet, which is the standard juice side.
San Francisco +105 on the moneyline at BetMGM is genuinely interesting given that they're being offered as a slight underdog despite being one of the deeper rosters in the league top to bottom. The 49ers' organisational depth - particularly on the offensive and defensive lines - tends to show up in preseason when backups matter most. That +105 price implies the market views this as a true coin flip, and we'd agree the 49ers deserve no worse than even money.
The total at 38.5 is the lowest of the two games, reflecting late-night West Coast preseason tendencies. We lean Under 38.5 (-105 at theScore Bet) here as well - two teams focused on evaluation, not scoring.
Value Flag
The Los Angeles Chargers -1.5 at +100 (Hard Rock Bet) stands out as a genuine value anomaly. Getting even money on any point-spread favourite - however small - is unusual. The implied probability is exactly 50%, yet the Chargers have home advantage and a motivated Jim Harbaugh operation looking sharp in his second preseason. Worth a single-game look if parlays aren't your style.
Recommended Parlay Combinations
Parlay 1 - The Double Under (Best Value)
- Under 39.5 - Raiders/Texans (-102, DraftKings)
- Under 38.5 - 49ers/Chargers (-105, theScore Bet)
Two low-total preseason games on the same night, both featuring teams in heavy roster evaluation mode. Coaching staffs in mid-preseason prioritise safe, installation-style football. The combined odds land around +188, a clean two-legger with a logical shared narrative. Ideal for bettors who want to keep it simple and lean on a proven preseason trend.
Parlay 2 - Underdogs and Unders
- Las Vegas Raiders +1.5 (-105, FanDuel)
- San Francisco 49ers ML (+105, BetMGM)
- Under 39.5 - Raiders/Texans (-102, DraftKings)
This three-legger pairs two underdog-friendly positions with a totals lean. The Raiders covering 1.5 in a near pick'em, the 49ers winning outright at a price that's frankly too generous, and the Raiders-Texans staying under a modest 39.5 total. Combined odds come in around +365, offering real upside for a sensible three-leg preseason slate.
Parlay 3 - Chargers Cover + Double Under
- Los Angeles Chargers -1.5 (+100, Hard Rock Bet)
- Under 39.5 - Raiders/Texans (-102, DraftKings)
- Under 38.5 - 49ers/Chargers (-105, theScore Bet)
Built around that Chargers spread value at even money - an unusually generous price for any favourite. Stack it with both unders and you've got a cohesive three-legger with combined odds around +290. If you believe Harbaugh's Chargers are the better team Thursday night AND both games stay low-scoring, this parlay rewards handsomely.
Thursday Picks Summary
- Raiders/Texans: Under 39.5 (-102, DraftKings) - top lean
- 49ers/Chargers: Under 38.5 (-105, theScore Bet) - top lean
- Value flag: Chargers -1.5 at +100 (Hard Rock Bet)
- Underdog value: 49ers ML +105 (BetMGM)
Responsible gambling reminder: Always bet within your means - if betting is no longer fun, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.
