Dr. Bob Previews RAIDERS (+1.5) Vs. BRONCOS

Robert Stoll

Correspondent Written on September 24, 2009

OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 29: Running back Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders runs the ball against Pierson Prioleau #31 of the New Orleans Saints during the preseason game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 29, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

OAKLAND 20 Denver (-1.5) 18

Over/Under Total: 36.0

01:15 PM Pacific Time Sunday, Sep-27

The Raiders won ugly last week in Kansas City, but the I can't imagine quarterback JaMarcus Russell playing any worse than he did in that game. The key to this year's Raiders' team is an improved defense that added former All-Pro defensive ends Greg Ellis and Richard Seymour, who have already combined for 5 sacks in two games while also helping to improve the perennially bad run defense (they've allowed a better than average 4.2 ypr this year).

Denver looks about average offensively if you take out their fluke 87 yard tipped pass TD in week 1 against Cincy (which I did take out of the stats), but Mike Nolan is doing a good job with the defense, which has played very well in their first two games (4.3 yppl allowed).

That unit should be able to contain the Raiders, but my ratings call this game even and the line opened with the Raiders favored by 2 1/2 points - so there is line value on the side of Oakland. Denver also applies to a negative 27-77 ATS letdown situation that is based on their strong defensive performances in the first two weeks.

I like the Raiders plus the points and hope that Russell goes back to being just bad instead of horribly bad.

Read more on my website www.drbobsports.com

Read an article about me in the Wall Street Journal

(0)

1 Comments

There are no comments yet. Get the conversation started by leaving the first comment

Loading more comments...

posted just now

Loading...
Nobody has liked this comment yet

Cancel

This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete

<form action="/accounts/create_from_facebook_comment" class="new_facebook_user" id="new_facebook_user" method="post">	<input id="facebook_user_facebook_id" name="facebook_user[facebook_id]" type="hidden" />
	<input id="facebook_user_proxied_email" name="facebook_user[proxied_email]" type="hidden" />
	<input id="facebook_user_profile_pic" name="facebook_user[profile_pic]" type="hidden" />
	<input id="facebook_user_profile_url" name="facebook_user[profile_url]" type="hidden" />
	<ul>
		<div id="facebook_questions">
			<li class="fb-question" id="facebook_full_name_container">
				<p class="question">
					<label for="facebook_user_use_full_name">Use your full name <strong class="full_name"></strong> on Bleacher Report?</label>
					<br />
				</p>
				<p class="options">
					<input name="facebook_user[use_full_name]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_use_full_name" name="facebook_user[use_full_name]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_use_full_name">Yes</label>
				</p>
				<div class="input full-name-edit" style="display:none">
					<p>Edit your name for Bleacher Report:</p>
					<div class="fb-first-name">
						<label for="facebook_user_first_name">First Name <em>(required)</em></label>
						<input class="signup_text_input" id="facebook_user_first_name" name="facebook_user[first_name]" size="30" type="text" />
						
					</div>
	
					<div class="fb-last-name">
						<label for="facebook_user_last_name">Last Name <em>(required)</em></label>
						<input class="signup_text_input" id="facebook_user_last_name" name="facebook_user[last_name]" size="30" type="text" />
						
					</div>
				</div>
			</li>
			<li class="fb-question">
				<p class="question">
					<img src="/images/default-user-icon-medium.png" class="profile_pic" />
					<label for="facebook_user_use_profile_pic">Do you want to use your Facebook profile picture on Bleacher Report?</label>
				</p>
				<p class="options">
					<input name="facebook_user[use_profile_pic]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_use_profile_pic" name="facebook_user[use_profile_pic]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_use_profile_pic">Yes</label>
					
				</p>
			</li>
			<li>
				<a id="facebook_connect_submit"><img src="/images/shared/submit.png" /></a>
			</li>
		</div>
	</ul>
</form>

6
reads

1
comments

0
likes

written on September 24, 2009 Preview/Prediction