Oakland Raiders Odds – Raiders might be better, but not good
Nobody’s had a reason to bet Oakland Raiders odds since 2002, when they went to the Super Bowl and lost to Tampa Bay. Since then, Raider Nation hasn’t had much to cheer about, given some baffling offseason moves and strange draft picks. Online sports book players will have at least another year to go against the Raiders.
Oakland Raiders odds: +10,000 to win the Super Bowl
- Quarterback Russell facing competition from Garcia
- Heywood-Bey under pressure to prove Raiders right
- Offenses can run all over the Raiders again
Something needs to be done about the awful Oakland aerial attack, as it ranked dead last in the NFL in 2008. So instead of drafting Michael Crabtree, the draft’s best athlete and a surefire star, the Raiders selected Darrius Heywood-Bey, who can run like the wind, but has sketchy hands and a questionable work ethic. This can’t be too comforting to JaMarcus Russell, especially since the Raiders signed Jeff Garcia to a free-agent contract.
Javon Walker hasn’t done anything to deserve his giant contract from 2008, and he’s even flirted with retirement. This puts a lot of pressure on Oakland’s ground game, led by Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden, who had a lot of nagging injuries in his rookie year. Khalif Barnes takes over the left-tackle spot after coming from Jacksonville, but the Oakland offensive line isn’t scaring anyone. Losing center Jake Grove to Miami will definitely hurt up front.
Leading tackler Kirk Morrison is back to marshal a unit that was 27th in defense in 2008, including 31st against the run. Safety Gibril Wilson was second on the team in tackles but joined Grove by leaving for Miami, leaving Nnamdi Asomugha to be the leader of the secondary. Asomugha is one of the top corners in the league, which means Chris Johnson will face lots of action on the other side of the field. The Raiders don’t generate a lot of pressure on the quarterback, which often leaves their secondary in coverage too long and leads to mistakes.
The Raiders don’t exactly have the best sports odds in the world, rated at the bottom of the AFC at +5000, and they join Detroit and Tampa Bay in the cellar of the Super Bowl odds at +10000. Over the last six seasons, the Raiders are a combined 24-72 and haven’t even looked like they’d reach .500, much less the playoffs. It looks like another long season in Oakland, especially if the defense isn’t improved, because the offense won’t put up any more than a handful of points per game. If you want to throw away your money, you’ll pick the Raiders in NFL betting odds this year.
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Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
