Chiefs-Raiders: NFL Betting Preview

Betting Overview

It is kind of interesting how the football betting experts set the NFL picks for each week. The Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) barely beat the Buffalo Bills (0-7) last week, so the Chiefs become underdogs to the Oakland Raiders (4-4) who pummeled the Seattle Seahawks (4- 3) last week.

But when you take this game between the Chiefs and the Raiders apart, you start to realize that things are not what they seem, and take note as a NFL betting handicapper.

The Chiefs beat the Bills on a last-second field goal in overtime. The Bills had just taken the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) to overtime the week before.

The Seahawks have been up and down all season and have a terrible pass defense.

Things are just not what they seem with this game, but you can be assured that this classic AFC West battle will be extremely entertaining.

Offense

The Chiefs have a potent running attack led by running back Thomas Jones. They put that running game on display a little in the game against Buffalo, but the Chiefs did not run the ball down the Bills’ throats as they should have.

The biggest obstacle that the Chiefs seem to have on offense is coaching. When the Chiefs should be throwing the ball, they are determined to run it. When they should be running it, they are trying to throw it.

The Raiders also have a potent running game led by running back Darren McFadden.

But in the win over the Seahawks, quarterback Jason Campbell was the game’s No. 1 star.

The Oakland offense is difficult to figure out. One week they have a passing game, and the next week, they do not.

The one constant is McFadden and the running game, and that may prove to be a potent weapon against the Chiefs.

Defense

The Raiders’ defensive weakness is the Chiefs’ offensive strength.

The Raiders rank 26th in stopping the run, allowing an average of 127 yards per game on the ground.

The Chiefs had a chance to exploit a weak run defense last week against Buffalo, and they did not. If the Chiefs let this opportunity go by, they will lose this game.

The Chiefs defense is ranked 23rd against the pass giving up an average of 236 passing yards per game.

It is one of those situations the Raiders seem to thrive in. Where the opposing defense is weak against the pass, the Raiders find a way to get the ball over the top.

The Chiefs secondary is not that good. So if the Raiders can get the ball in the air, this game could be interesting.

The Bottom Line

If the Raiders win this game, they put themselves another game closer to first place in the AFC West. That is certainly not a position they were in at any point last season and not a point that anyone expected them to be in this year.

But, then again, no one expected the Kansas City Chiefs to be the team that the Raiders were battling for first place either.

Pick: Oakland Raiders