Projected Line: Denver by 14 points
This is just a complete mismatch between one of the best teams in the league and one of the worst. Even considering the fact that Denver won't be 100% focused on this game, as this is a game against a lowly team, the truth is that even on such conditions, I expect Denver to have a double digits win over the Raiders tonight.
Peyton Manning is having another MVP season and he won't have any problems in pounding the poor defense of the Raiders tonight. The Broncos have a very good offensive line and they will face a very poor pass rush of Oakland, while the Raiders' secondary is also poor and crushed with injuries, with safeties Matt Giordano and Mike Mitchell being questionable for tonight with concussions. Denver has one of the best passing games in the league and just like it happened back in week 4 at Denver, Peyton Manning and his receivers will crush the Raiders tonight. Oakland has also been regressing very quickly on their run defense, where they went from being a decent unit to one of the worst in the league (#27 with 4.7 rushing yards per carry allowed). Denver doesn't have Willis McGahee due to a knee injury, but they have Knowshon Moreno back and he is coming from a decent performance last week against the Buccaneers (#1 in run defense), so I believe he will be able to give a decent support to the Broncos offense tonight.
But not only Denver has one of the best offenses in the league, as their defense is also one of the best. Carson Palmer has been an average-at-best quarterback this season, while being forced to throw the football a lot due to the lack of effectiveness of the Raiders' running game. I know Darren McFadden is probable for tonight's game, however he missed several games due to an ankle injury and even before the injury, he was being a massive disappointment by rushing just 3.3 yards per carry! Denver is #3 on run defense with 3.6 rushing yards allowed per carry and they won't allow Oakland to do anything on their running game tonight. So, the Raiders will have to throw the football tonight and this is going to be tough for Carson Palmer, as Oakland's offensive line isn't good and Denver is #2 in the league on sacks! The Broncos' coverage is also quite good and the only defensive struggle that the Broncos have been dealing with this season is on the red zone (#28), but Oakland's offense is just #28 in red zone efficiency, therefore I don't believe Denver will have any problem in stopping the Raiders' mediocre offense tonight.
If it wasn't enough for Denver to have edges in both sides of the field, the Broncos also have a very dangerous return game that should cause havoc on the Raiders' poor coverage unit. Trindon Holliday has been on-fire on returns since he joined Denver two months ago and I wouldn't be surprised if he scores his third return touchdown of the season tonight! There is just too many edges for the Broncos to not blowout the Raiders tonight and therefore, I believe Denver will have another easy win over their divisional rival. Therefore, I'll be taking Denver tonight.
Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 101 Denver Broncos (-9,5) @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker
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