Raiders 49ers Betting – Raiders Look To Flex Muscle Against 49ers In Week Two
It was bad enough that the San Francisco 49ers opened their preseason with a blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints, but the opening result of their week two opponent’s game doesn’t it make it any easier after the Oakland Raiders lost game one of their preseason to the Arizona Cardinals. The NFC West projects to be improved from a year ago, and with a new head coach and questions on both sides of the ball, the 49ers haven’t shown anything to influence fans to think that they are even close to ready to compete in that sports betting bonus division.
- Oakland Raiders @ San Francisco 49ers
- Saturday August 20, 2011 – 8:00 PM ET
- Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
NFL Betting Lines: San Francisco 49ers – 2
The Raiders meanwhile opened the first season with head coach Hue Jackson calling the shots with a couple of obvious miscues, but the team did show signs that they are progressing in the right direction. The key to the offense will continue to be the running game, and that should be a good test for both teams this week as Oakland looks to pound the rock.
NFL Betting Preview: Oakland Raiders
The Raiders certainly have the talent to run the ball, with Darren McFadden finally beginning to live up to his billing as a first round pick while Michael Bush helps him along. Oakland has a ton of young talent on both sides of the ball, and the more that the running game produces on offense the more it will open things up for Jason Campbell and the other quarterbacks. The Raiders are looking for a replacement for Nnamdi Asomugha on defense and with nobody on the roster capable of filling his place, that could be the biggest Achilles heel for the team going forward.
NFL Betting Preview: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers know all about problems at the cornerback position, as they allowed veteran Nate Clements to walk in the offseason and then fell short in the Asomugha sweepstakes. The defense is in the middle of a transition after losing its best run stopper in defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin, and it will be a key storyline to follow as the team looks to make up for it via committee. The battle between quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick is much more about survival of the fittest as the two looked awful in week one of the preseason, pushing the team to go out and audition veteran Daunte Culpepper at the spot.
NFL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick
The Raiders won’t have to travel far to find sunny Candlestick Park just miles down the California coast, and when they get there they will look to make life miserable for the 49ers’ quarterbacks. Oakland has question marks of its own on the offensive side of the ball, with a Campbell showing confidence and the running game lightening the load, the Raiders continue to progress in the right sports betting direction.
NFL Betting Pick: Oakland Raiders + 2
