Raiders vs. Broncos Prediction
Will the Denver Broncos have another solid defensive performance when they play host to the Oakland Raiders today at 4:25PM ET?
According to the oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Broncos are the slight favorite at home, as they are getting odds of -1.5 point against the Raiders. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 40.5 points. Oakland won the first meeting this season, 30-20 at home, back on Nov. 6. These two have hit the over in three of their last five meetings.
Oakland is coming off a 33-25 win over the Colts at home last week to move to 12-4 on the season, but the Raiders lost QB Derek Carr to a broken leg and will be without him for the playoffs. This game is still very important for Oakland as a win or a KC loss to the Chargers gives the Raiders the division. With Carr out, Matt McGloin takes over under center. He has thrown just four passes this season and only 266 in his four-year career. He takes over an offense that is averaging 27.3 points and 388.7 yards per game. That offense has allowed Oakland to go 11-4 with the over in 2016. McGloin will likely have to rely on the run game that is led by Latavius Murray with 777 yards while Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington each have over 400 yards. The Oakland defense is giving up 24.1 points and 386.6 yards per game this year.
Denver is coming off a 33-10 thrashing at the hands of Kansas City last week to fall to 8-7 on the year and out of the playoff picture. Denver has lost three straight coming into today and is 8-7 with the under this season. While Denver has still had a solid defense that holds opponents to just 19.4 points and 337.1 yards per game, their offense has struggled. Denver has only managed to put up 20.6 points and 336.6 yards per game this season. Trevor Siemian has thrown for 3,195 yards and 16 touchdowns this season while both Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders have over 1,000 receiving yards.
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With McGloin taking the snaps, I don’t think the Oakland offense is going put up its usual numbers, especially against this Denver defense. The Broncos were embarrassed last week and will be eager to correct that in the season finale. While Denver likely can move the ball on this Oakland offense, the Broncos have no reason to really air it out and let loose, so I see a continued conservative game plan.
NFL WEEK 17 PREDICTION: RAIDERS/BRONCOS UNDER 40.5
