Raiders vs. Broncos Spread Prediction
AFC West rivals will clash on Christmas Eve tonight when the Oakland Raiders host the Denver Broncos at 8:15 p.m. ET. Are the Broncos a trustworthy play for bettors as a 3-point road favorite with nothing on the line?
Game Snapshot
131 Denver Broncos at 132 Oakland Raiders
8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, December 24
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Broncos are 3-point favorites to beat the Raiders. The total, meanwhile, sits at 43 points. As of this writing, 59% of the public betting tickets are on the Broncos to cover the point spread.
Denver Broncos
Case Keenum completed 31-of-48 passes for 257 yards and two picks in the Broncos’ frustrating Week 15 loss to the Browns. The Browns were short potential All-Pro corner Denzel Ward Saturday night, but it didn’t matter with Keenum on the other side of the ball. Not only did the savvy vet miss wide open receivers left and right, his second egregious turnover allowed the Browns to start their eventual game-winning drive near the 50. Coach Vance Joseph decidedly didn’t help matters, comically kicking a field goal on 4th-and-1 from Cleveland’s 6-yard line with his team trailing by 4 with only 4:39 left to play. Keenum is bound to finish the year under center with only Kevin Hogan behind him, but Denver’s stud defense deserves better in 2019. The Broncos and Joseph will have another prime opportunity to bumble last-minute decisions under the lights on Monday Night Football against the Raiders in Week 16.
Oakland Raiders
Speaking Monday, Raiders coach Jon Gruden referred to Derek Carr as a “great quarterback.”
It’s notable because the Raiders are in prime position to draft a quarterback early in the first round. But if Gruden is to be believed, they won’t be going that route. “The guy is a hell of a player,” Gruden said, calling Carr’s ability to perform capably “astonishing” amid shoddy pass protection. “The guy is a great quarterback.” Carr is completing a career-best 68.4% of his throws and averaging a career-best 7.5 yards per attempt.
NFL Betting Trends
Denver
The under is 15-5-1 in the Broncos’ last 21 games overall and is 12-3-1 in their last 16 conference matchups.
Oakland
The under is 6-1-1 in the Raiders’ last eight games played in the month of December and is 8-3 in their last 11 home games.
Prediction
The Broncos have been a sound play in this series, going 5-2 against the number in their last seven trips to Oakland and 9-4-1 at the betting window in their last 14 meetings with the Raiders overall. The favorite has also cashed plenty in this series, going 10-2-1 at the window in the last 13 meetings. One week after upsetting the Steelers 24-21, the Raiders laid an egg in Cincinnati, losing 30-16 to the Bengals last Sunday as a small underdog. I don’t trust Jon Gruden to try to win a game when he’s seemingly fighting for a high draft pick next April. Even with Vance Joseph likely to be fired in two weeks, I’ll back the Broncos.
NFL Week 16 Prediction: Denver Broncos -3