The Las Vegas Raiders will take on the Denver Broncos in a big AFC West matchup on Sunday. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Raiders-Broncos prediction and pick.
This is a crucial matchup for both of these teams. The Raiders look like they could enter a free fall at any moment after two straight losses and a turbulent (to say the least) week of practice. A head coaching change in the middle of the season usually doesn't help all that much either. Denver has also dropped their last two games, so a win here is necessary if they want to remain in contention for the division crown or a wild card spot. A Raiders team rocked by an unexpected change in the locker room looks like a good chance to turn things around.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the lines for Sunday's matchup.
NFL Odds: Raiders-Broncos Odds
Las Vegas Raiders +4 (-110)
Denver Broncos -4 (-110)
Over 43 points (-111)
Under 43 points (-109)
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Why The Raiders Could Cover The Spread
Las Vegas has been surprisingly solid on defense this season, and that's where their advantage comes in this game. The Broncos have looked poor on offense throughout their last couple of contests, only scoring 26 points over their last two matchups. Denver's ground game has looked underutilized, and the passing game lacks explosiveness. This Vegas defense has allowed 333 passing yards over the last two weeks combined, so it's hard to see this defense falling apart against Teddy Bridgewater. Denver also hasn't had a running back surpass 100 yards rushing since Week 1, and over the last two weeks they've barely crossed the 100-yard rushing threshold as a team. That's the biggest weakness of this Raiders defense, so it's good to see that the Broncos probably won't be able to take advantage of it.
Vegas has also been a fairly strong offensive team. They've cooled off in recent weeks, but the Raiders have shown the ability to score on anyone. They've topped 30 points twice this season, with those performances coming against the Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens, two solid defenses. Denver is better than both of those defenses, but the Raiders have shown that they can score on anyone in the league if they play to their potential.
Why The Broncos Could Cover The Spread
Despite their recent performances, the Denver defense is a top-five unit in the NFL. They allowed 26 points over the first three weeks of play before disappointing performances against the Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is the perfect spot for a rebound, as Vegas has gone ice-cold on offense recently. Quarterback Derek Carr has been turnover-prone, the receiving corps is one of the most unintimidating in the NFL, and the offensive line has been ravaged by injuries. All of those factors combined with the fact that former head coach Jon Gruden won't be calling plays anymore should help the Broncos to a solid defensive performance at the very least.
While the Broncos may have an unimpressive ground attack on first glance, a deeper dive shows a pretty good rushing attack. Running backs Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams are averaging 4.7 and 4.6 yards per carry respectively, and the offensive line has quietly improved to one of the better units in the league. Las Vegas has been shredded on the ground recently, allowing well over 100 yards rushing in each of their last three contests. Expect the Broncos to make it a point to run the football here.
Final Raiders-Broncos Prediction & Pick
This game shouldn't be all that close. The Raiders fooled everyone again with their annual tradition of playing elite football for a couple of weeks, but they're coming down to Earth now. They shouldn't cover against a superior Denver team after a week of locker room controversy and two straight losses.
FINAL PICK: Denver Broncos -4 (-110)
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