Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans Pick Prediction NFL Pro Football Odds Preview 8-9-2013

A pair of 2012 NFL playoff teams will take the field in a week one preseason game as the Houston Texans will hit the road to battle the Minnesota Vikings in a pro football exhibition.

Start time from Minnesota is scheduled for 8PM Eastern Time with live national television coverage provided only in the Houston and Minnesota markets.

The betting odds from this week one NFL preseason affair are lined at a pick with the total coming in at 35 points. With the game lined a pick a money line return on either side will bring back -110 odds.

Houston returns Matt Schaub under center. The nine year pro will play a few series in week one of the preseason. Those backing up Schaub will be veterans T.J. Yates, Stephen McGee and rookie Case Keenum out of Houston University.

The team has a solid duo at running back in Arian Foster and Ben Tate. Rookies Cierre Wood out of Notre Dame, Ray Graham from Pittsburgh and Dennis Johnson from Arkansas will compete for carries. Houston won back to back AFC south titles and beat Cincinnati in each season in the playoffs. They could not take the next step and win a second playoff game in each season. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was a huge pickup for the team in 2011 and the club has defended very well in both of his seasons running the defense for the Texans.

Christian Ponder will return under center for Minnesota and he better improve from his poor play late in 2012. Former Kansas City Chief starter Matt Cassel will be the backup. James Vandenberg from Iowa and McLeod Bethel-Thompson from Sacramento St will compete for the third string position.

Adrian Peterson returns as the featured back for Minnesota and figures to play very little in week one. Toby Gerhart is the backup and young backs Matt Asiata, Joe Banyard, Bradley Randle and Jerodis Williams will compete for a roster spot. Minnesota was a surprise playoff entrant finishing as a wildcard at 10-6 last season. Adrian Peterson and the running back carried the team as they ran for nearly 5 ½ yards per carry last season. They threw for only 172 yards per game making it the third straight season that the Vikings passed for under 200 yards per game. A big free agent acquisition for Minnesota was wide out Greg Jennings signed away from the Green Bay Packers. Their first two picks in the draft came on defense. The club defended the run well but allowed 245 yards passing per game last season.