Raiders vs. Bucs Prediction
Will Derek Carr lead the Raiders to yet another road win when they take on the Bucs at 1:00PM ET today?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Bucs are 2-point home underdogs versus the Raiders after opening as a 1-point favorite when the lines were first released earlier this week. As for the total, it hasn’t moved after hitting the board at 49.
This will be a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIII when Jon Gruden led the Buccaneers to a 48-21 thrashing over Rich Gannon and his former Oakland team. The Raiders are seeking their first 6-2 start since 2001 and are a perfect 4-0 on the road this season. They haven’t won five straight road games at any point in a single season since 1986.
The Bucs, meanwhile will look to improve to 4-3 on the season and potentially lift themselves into first place if the Falcons fall to the Packers later today. Tampa Bay has not been 4-3 or better through seven games since 2011, when it finished 4-12. While the Raiders have thrived on the road this season, the Bucs are 0-2 in their two home games and are 9-25 at home over their last five seasons.
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OUR PREDICTION: No reason to shy away from the Raiders on the road or bet the Bucs at home, where they have been one of the worst home teams over the last five seasons. Michael Crabtree is on pace for 89 receptions this season after tying a career-high 85 receptions last season. He has become Carr’s favorite red zone target and he should have a big day today against Tampa Bay’s leaky secondary. This game could come down to the wire, but that only supports our pick of the Raiders, who are 3-0 this season in games decided by three points or fewer.
NFL WEEK 8 PREDICTION: OAKLAND RAIDERS -2