Monday Night Football Raiders at Broncos

NFL Week 3

Raiders (1-1) @ Broncos (2-0 ) — Over last seven years, Oakland is amazing 18-3 vs spread as a divisional road underdog, but they’ve lost last three games vs Denver by 14-31-13 points. Broncos appear to be offensive juggernaut, scoring 90 points in first two games (11 TDs, two FGA on first 26 drives), with four drives of 40 or less yards plus a PR for TD. Raiders won four of last five visits here, with wins before Manning came to town (they lost 37-6 here LY). Raiders split pair of close games this year without getting a takeaway; they’ve run ball for 171-221 yards in first two games, with Pryor’s mobility a key factor. Bronco defense allowed only 58-23 rushing yards in first two games, and they’re still missing some key pieces- Denver is 3-1 as double digit favorite under Fox, after being 2-12-1 in that role in eight years before he became HC. From 2006-11, Broncos were 5-24-2 as Mile High favorites; they’re 7-1 in that role since #18 became their QB.

Armadillosports.com

Raiders at Broncos: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com

Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos (-14.5, 48.5)

The Denver Broncos have experienced little adversity in posting a pair of dominating wins to open the season, but that is about to change as they prepare to host the Oakland Raiders on Monday night. Peyton Manning is off to a sizzling start but he could be looking over his shoulder after the Broncos lost starting left tackle Ryan Clady to a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury. Denver has won 13 consecutive regular-season games, the longest winning streak in the NFL.

Oakland has split its first two games behind dual-threat quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who was expected to be the team's backup before beating out Matt Flynn for the starting job in the preseason. Pryor conceded he has to make sure not to be preoccupied with the fact that Manning, the league's only four-time Most Valuable Player, is on the opposing sideline. “Peyton’s great and I can’t let that get into mind,” Pryor said. “I have to play my game and focus on my team."

LINE: Denver opened as a 14-point fave and is now -14.5. The total opened 49.5 and dropped to 48.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-60s with clear skies.

ABOUT THE RAIDERS (1-1): Oakland's strategy to combat Manning and Denver's high-powered offense will likely be to play keep-away and rely on a running attack that averaged a league-best 198.5 yards in the first two games. Pryor has been an integral part of that success, setting a franchise record with 112 yards on the ground in a season-opening loss at Indianapolis while running back Darren McFadden rumbled for 129 yards in last week's 19-9 victory over Jacksonville. Oakland's defense ranks fourth in the league with an average of 261 yards allowed and will look to exploit Clady's absence with a unit that has collected nine sacks.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (2-0): Manning's passer rating is off the charts at a league-leading 131.0 after throwing for 769 yards with nine touchdowns and zero interceptions through two games. He has weapons all over the field in the wide receiver troika of Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Eric Decker to go with emerging tight end Julius Thomas, and former first-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno fortified the running game with a 93-yard, two-touchdown effort in last week's 41-23 win at the New York Giants. A defense that is missing suspended linebacker Von Miller could get a boost with the expected return of Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey.

TRENDS:

* Broncos are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.
* Raiders are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Monday games.
* Raiders are 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings in Denver.
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Manning, who is 6-0 vs. the AFC West since joining the Broncos, is the only QB in league history with nine TDs versus zero picks in the opening two games.

2. Oakland is 11-2 when McFadden rushes for 100 yards.

3. The Broncos have outscored the opposition 66-24 in the second half.

MNF - Raiders at Broncos
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com

The Broncos have been the most impressive team in the NFL through two weeks after dominating the last two Super Bowl champions en route to a 2-0 start. Denver returns home to battle Oakland in its first division showdown of the season on Monday, as the Broncos are listed as an over two-touchdown favorite.

Following a seven-touchdown performance in the season-opening rout of Baltimore, Peyton Manning led the Broncos to 41 points in the final three quarters of a 41-23 destruction of the Giants in Week 2. Denver easily cashed as 3½-point road favorites after the game was steamed down from 4½ earlier in the week, while the Broncos' defense intercepted Peyton's brother, Eli Manning four times.

The Broncos have easily cashed the 'over' in each of the first two games, including the 52 ½-spot against the Giants. How explosive has Denver been since last October? John Fox's club has scored at least 30 points in 12 of the last 14 games, while eclipsing the 34-point mark in six consecutive contests ('over' 5-0-1 in this stretch).

The Raiders weren't expected to do much this season, but Oakland has covered in each of its first two games. After almost upsetting Indianapolis in Week 1 as 11-point underdogs, Dennis Allen's team picked up their first win of the season in last Sunday's 19-9 defeat of the hapless Jaguars as 3½-point favorites. Oakland rushed for 226 yards in the victory, but the Raiders kicked four field goals, including three from inside 30 yards.

The defense has been the bright spot for the Silver and Black, as the Raiders allowed just 248 total yards to Jacksonville, one week after giving up 274 yards at Indianapolis. The 'under' has cashed in each of Oakland's first two contests, extending to an 8-1 'under' stretch since last November. The 'under' run ties back to Oakland's woes offensively, as the Raiders have scored 17 points or less in seven of the last nine games.

The Broncos swept the season series from the Raiders last season, which included a 37-6 blowout at Sports Authority Field in late September. Denver cashed as 6½-point favorites, while Manning torched the Oakland defense for three touchdowns and 338 yards. The Broncos held the ball for 37 minutes, as Denver snapped a four-game home skid to Oakland which dated back to 2008.

The Raiders entered the second matchup at O.Coliseum as 10-point home underdogs in December, as Oakland fell to Denver, 26-13. Darren McFadden scored a late first half touchdown to get the Raiders within 13-7 at the intermission, but Denver put up 13 unanswered points to grab the money as a large road favorite. Following a streak of five consecutive matchups that finished 'over' the total, each of the two meetings went 'under' in 2012.

In Manning's first season with the Broncos, the team compiled a perfect 6-0 record against AFC West foes, while covering four times. Last season's three-game sweep of divisional opponents at home was in stark contrast to the 0-3 mark put up in Fox's debut season of 2011.

In 2010, the Raiders posted a remarkable 6-0 record inside the AFC West, but the Silver and Black has won just five of the last 12 games versus divisional foes. Oakland has cashed just once in the last four opportunities as an underdog of nine points or more, with the lone cover coming at Atlanta last October in a 23-20 defeat as 10-point 'dogs.

This is the first time the Raiders are playing on Monday night after Week 1 since 2006, a 16-0 setback at Seattle. In this stretch, Oakland owns a 1-5 SU and 2-4 ATS mark under the Monday night lights, with the only victory coming at Denver in the 2011 season opener, 23-20. The Broncos have lost four of their last five games on Monday night since 2009, which includes a 1-1 SU/ATS record last season.

The Broncos are listed as 15-point favorites, while the total is set between 49 and 49½. The game kicks off at 8:30 PM EST and will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Week 3 Recap:

There is plenty of shock and awe when it comes to the struggles of several NFC teams. The Redskins and Giants are each 0-3 SU/ATS, as both clubs have started 0-3 in the same season for the first time in NFL history. The Packers, Falcons, and 49ers all made the playoffs last season, but the three squads have started 1-2 after all lost on Sunday. Green Bay and Atlanta each led with four minutes remaining in regulation, while squandering late advantages.

The Chiefs and Dolphins each picked up huge interconference victories, while both teams improved to 3-0. Miami has covered all three games, including consecutive wins over playoff squads Indianapolis and Atlanta. The Dolphins travel to New Orleans for a Monday night showdown between a pair of undefeated teams, while the Chiefs host the winless Giants next Sunday.

NFL: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com

Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos

Certainly ample reason to consider Denver Monday night when they host division rival Oakland. The Broncos were a perfect 6-0 (4-2 ATS) vs the division last season, have a smart 11-2 (9-4 ATS) inter-conference record since the beginning of last season, enter with a sparkling 14-1 (12-3 ATS) regular season stretch that started with a week-four 37-6 win over Oakland. Additionally, Raiders have lost eight of it's last nine on the road (4-5 ATS) and are on an 0-4 (1-3 ATS) skid revenging a division loss. But, before jumping on Manning and the Broncos at 14 to 16 point favorite here are a few sports betting nuggets that may give pause. Broncos are on a 2-4 ATS slide in MNF including an outright loss to Oakland back in 2011. Raiders are on a solid 8-3 ATS stretch taking double digits, have cashed six times the past seven trips to Mile-High.

MNF heads to Denver
By Sportsbook.ag

OAKLAND RAIDERS (1-1) at DENVER BRONCOS (2-0)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Denver -16 & 50
Opening Line & Total: Broncos -14.5 & 49.5

The Raiders head out to Denver on Monday night where they look to come away with an improbable win over the heavily-favored Broncos and their high-powered offense.

In 2012, Denver swept the season series, including a 37-6 win at home. QB Peyton Manning threw for 648 yards, four touchdowns and just one interception in those two victories. This Oakland team, however, has been much more competitive with Terrelle Pryor under center than they were last year with an unhappy Carson Palmer. The Raiders are 2-0 ATS this season, but so are the Broncos who have beaten them in three straight meetings after losing the four previous meetings to the Raiders.

Denver crushed the Giants in New York last week, 41-23, and is 8-1 ATS (89%) when coming off a road win over the past three seasons. The Broncos are also 12-2 ATS (86%) when playing as a favorite over the past two years. This does not make them an automatic cover though, as the Raiders have been a tough team to beat in this young season and the Broncos are just 5-15 ATS in home games after gaining 375 or more total yards in two consecutive games since 1992.

Behind four field goals from Sebastian Janikowski and an 11-yard touchdown run from fullback Marcel Reese, the Raiders defeated the Jaguars 19-9 last week. QB Terrelle Pryor failed to find the end zone in the game, but he was effective moving the ball as he had 176 total yards without turning the ball over. RB Darren McFadden was the real spark for this Oakland team as he rushed for 129 yards on 19 carries (6.8 YPC). “Run-DMC” also caught a team-high four passes for 28 yards. He has looked like the player Raiders fans expected when they drafted him so far this season and should continue to as long as he remains healthy which is always a big question mark with him.

Oakland will probably need a lot more than 19 points to stay in the game against the Broncos on Monday, so Pryor must bring his A-game if the Raiders are going to improve to 2-1. The Raiders expect to be without starting TE David Ausberry (shoulder) for the third straight game and will also miss SS Tyvon Branch who is out indefinitely with what is believed to be a fractured fibula.

The Broncos are coming off of a blowout victory in which Peyton Manning beat up on his younger brother Eli and the New York Giants. Manning threw for 307 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions, upping his season totals to 769 passing yards (9.0 YPA), 9 TD and 0 INT. However, he may be a little jittery dropping back as starting LT Ryan Clady has been lost for the year with a foot injury. RB Knowshon Moreno was also on a roll against the Giants. Despite a committee backfield, Denver used Moreno on a large majority of their snaps and he delivered with 13 carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Moreno was also very useful in pass protection and caught three short passes for 14 yards when Manning needed a bailout.

WR Eric Decker, who struggled in Week 1 with dropped passes, bounced back against the Giants and caught nine passes for 87 yards. He was targeted 13 times and it was clear Peyton didn’t lose any trust in his wideout. Manning has no shortage of reliable hands to catch his passes with WR Demaryius Thomas (213 rec. yds, 2 TD), TE Julius Thomas (157 rec. yds, 3 TD) and WR Wes Welker (106 rec. yds, 3 TD). But as great as the offense has been, Denver's defense has struggled a bit, allowing 25.0 PPG and 344 passing YPG. If CB Champ Bailey (foot) is able to return to the field, he will provide a huge boost to the secondary.