Houston Texans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3, 34)
Bring on the backups
A new offensive coordinator will be at the controls for the Bucs after the surprise firing of first-year coach Jeff Jagodzinski Thursday. Quarterbacks coach Greg Olson will take over the offense.
First-round pick Josh Freeman will start at quarterback for the Bucs, which ranks 19th in total offense and 31st in passing during the preseason. Josh Johnson is expected to relieve. Neither Byron Leftwich, who was named the team’s regular season starter this week, nor Luke McCown are expected to play.
The Bucs will also be wading deep in the running back depth chart as Earnest Graham, Derrick Ward and Cadillac Williams are all expected to be held out.
The Texans will be back on the field just four days after losing to the Minnesota Vikings 17-10 Monday night. Starting quarterback Matt Schaub will not play. In his place under center will be Dan Orlovsky, Rex Grossman and Alex Brink.
Grossman will be seeing his first action since straining a hamstring in the Texans’ preseason opener vs. the Chiefs.
Linebacker Brian Cushing, the Texans’ first-round pick who has not played a snap this preseason because of a sprained knee, will again be held out despite practicing and proclaiming himself 100 percent fit.
Trends
The Bucs are 1-2 ATS and the over/under is 2-1 under first-year coach Raheem Morris. The Texans are 7-6-2 ATS and the over/under is 10-5 under fourth-year coach Gary Kubiak.
Weather
The forecast for Tampa calls for scattered thunderstorms with a high of 87 degrees.
Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings (-3, 36)
Reserve the Right
The Cowboys’ reserves have struggled throughout the preseason, but they’ll get a chance to right the ship this week. Coach Wade Phillips said he plans to hold the starters out, but that could prove easier said than done given the number of injuries to the Cowboys rookie class.
The Cowboys reserves were outscored, 28-3, in the preseason opener at Oakland after the starters presented them with a first-quarter lead. Last week, the starters handed the reserves a 10-3 first-half lead vs. the San Francisco 49ers, but the backups responded by allowing San Francisco to score 10 points in the final 5:30 of a 20-13 loss.
Minnesota Coach Brad Childress also indicated the Vikings starters will not play, which includes Brett Favre. Despite his late arrival to training camp, Childress believes Favre is ready for the season opener. Tarvaris Jackson, John David Booty and Sage Rosenfels will split time under center.
The Vikings are 3-0 ATS this preseason and have had at least 350 yards of total offense in each game.
Line Movement
The line has held steady at Minnesota -3, but the total has been bet down from 38 to 36.
Trends
The Vikings are 10-5 ATS and the over/under is 6-9 under Childress. The Cowboys are 4-7 ATS and the over/under is 7-4 under Phillips.
San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers (-4, 37)
California Love
Starting quarterback Shaun Hill and the rest of the first-unit is expected to play briefly for the 49ers, which are 3-0 SU and 1-2 ATS this preseason. Alex Smith and Nate Davis will take most of the snaps for San Francisco.
The 49ers are the top rushing team in the league this preseason in large part to the significant contributions of third-round pick Glen Coffee (38 carries, 230 yards) and free agent Kory Bid (33 carries, 144 yards and 3 TD).
San Diego will rest its starters, coach Norv Turner said this week. The biggest position battle for the Chargers appears to be at running back, where veteran Michael Bennett, fourth-round rookie Gartrell Johnson and fullback Mike Tolbert are all fighting for roster spots. Bennett has had a particularly strong preseason with touchdowns in each of the Chargers’ previous three games.
Defensive tackle Travis Johnson, a former first-round pick who was obtained from the Texans in a trade earlier this week, will not play because of a sports hernia he has been battling all preseason.
Line Movement
The Chargers opened as 3.5-point favorites and are now -4 at most betting shops. The total has held steady at 37 at most books.
Trends
The Chargers are 6-4-1 ATS and the over/under is 6-5 under third-year coach Norv Turner. The 49ers are 1-2 ATS and the over/under is 1-2 under Mike Singletary.
Weather
The forecast for San Diego calls for sunny skies with a high of 83 degrees.