Posted on
11/30/2007 3:54:46 PM
Football Betting – Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
By Charles Jay
The Denver Broncos (5-6 SU, 3-8-1 ATS) will try to bounce back from one of the most disappointing losses any team could suffer when they go to Oakland to play the Raiders (3-8 SU, 4-7 ATS) in a Sunday afternoon game scheduled for 4:05 PM ET at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland (grass). In the BetUS NFL football betting odds, the Broncos are listed at -4.5, with the total posted at 42.5 points.
Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* DENVER has covered just four of its last 19 games
* DENVER has won three of its last nine games SU
* DENVER has played eight of its last ten games OVER the total (one push)
* OAKLAND is 0-8 ATS in its last eight home games
* OAKLAND is 1-17 SU in its last 18 games against AFC West opponents
* DENVER has won eight of the last nine meetings SU
* OAKLAND has covered the last three meetings
* DENVER has won four of the last five meetings in Oakland
* DENVER has covered six of the last nine meetings in Oakland
* Three of the last four meetings have gone UNDER the total
* Seven of the last 10 meetings have gone UNDER the total
Should we hang that great big "buy" sign on the Oakland Raiders after their 20-17 win over Kansas City last Sunday? Well, not so fast. Consider that the Chiefs are still breaking in a new quarterback (Brodie Croyle) and had a running back making a first-time start who ran for 150 yards against the Silver and Black defense. Denver went to Chicago and, if you judge it on what happened from the scrimmage line, dominated things, outgaining the Bears 430-293. The special teams unit blew a nice effort, giving up a punt return and kickoff return for Devin Hester touchdowns, and letting a punt get blocked that led to another TD. Oakland doesn't happen to be that opportunistic.
Denver's psyche may be a question mark, but Mike Shanahan never misses a shot to beat up on the Raiders. Even though Oakland has covered the last three meetings, Shanahan has a 20-5 SU record against the team that showed him the door some years ago. And you have to concede that there is some momentum on this team. The running game continued along with Andre Hall, and should find room again as Oakland gives up five yards a carry. Jay Cutler (65%, 13 TD, 10 INT) looks like he's maturing. And even after "outbursts" of 22 and 20 points the last couple of weeks, the Raiders have still only averaged 14 ppg over their last seven. In the previous meeting, a 23-20 OT win for Denver, Oakland had only eleven first downs.
And for those of you looking for the Raiders to make that big stand at home, they've dropped the eight against the number at McAfee Coliseum. And now here come the rumors about Lane Kiffin bailing out to take a college head coaching job. Could he actually be gone before he even puts JaMarcus Russell into action?
We have no doubt about Shanahan getting his team ready to play this hated rival, especially as the Broncos are still only a game out of the lead in the AFC West. We'll lay the points with Denver, the 4.5-point road favorite in the BetUS NFL betting odds.
BetUS NFL football betting odds: DENVER -4.5, Total 42.5
NOTABLE STAT: Raiders are giving up five yards a rushing attempt
KEY NFL BETTING TREND: Oakland 0-8 ATS in last eight home games
(For more useful stats and trends, visit our special Matchup Tool)
JAY'S PLAY: DENVER **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)
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(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a member of the NFL too - that is, "not for long" if you don't get results. He is now a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)