One week at a time.
Regardless of the sport, that’s the motto — focus on where your feet are, don’t look ahead, etc., etc., etc. There’s no doubt that Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce is preaching this to his team — but in the quiet moments of solitude, he has to be at least thinking about the gauntlet that awaits his team starting in Week 11, right?
Yes, Zach Wilson and the New York Jets are coming to town Sunday — but after that, things get brutal: Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers and Chiefs again over a six-week stretch that includes their bye week. And the reason any of this matters is because for Pierce, it means Sunday is all that much more important as one of the few winnable games remaining on the schedule.
As it stands, the Raiders are just a one-point underdog, making Sunday a nice test for the newly invigorated locker room. Did Sunday’s win over the Giants say more about how bad the Giants are or how improved the Raiders are?
This question and more will be answered on Sunday afternoon… (Odds courtesy of BetOnline.AG)
Last Week: 1-5, -4.1u; Season: 20-26-1, -4.19u
Last week was a tough slate as the Raiders jumped out to such a big lead that all of the passing props we picked ended up falling just short. How’s this for a stat: Aidan O’Connell’s last completion came with 6:01 left in the third — making the Adams loss (three receptions short) and the O’Connell loss (eight passing yards short) tough pills to swallow. But onward we march!
Josh Jacobs OVER 67.5 rushing yards (-110)
Josh Jacobs OVER 17.5 carries (-110)
Jacobs ran for 98 yards last Sunday, and while the Jets are (obviously) a far tougher test up front, I think he’s going to be the Raiders’ bell cow and who they bank all of their offensive success on. I like Jacobs so much on Sunday that I’m going to double dip with the over on both his carries and his yards prop.
First quarter field goal: YES (-115)
I couldn’t find a first-quarter total I liked enough to bet the under, so I’ll go a slightly different route and predict we see a field goal at some point in the first quarter. Obviously, the Jets defense is one of the league’s best — but their offense, especially in the first quarter, has been the second-worst scoring offense thus far this season (1.5 points per first quarter). Throw in the fact that both teams have really good kickers, and I think someone splits the uprights early.
First half UNDER 17.5
Everything I just wrote applies here. I know the Raiders’ offense looked good last week, but the Giants are a dumpster fire, so I’m thinking that may have been a bit of a mirage. That said, I think their defense keeps the scoring low in this one, and so the first half under is one I’m taking a bite at.
Raiders MONEYLINE (+100)
I know how good the Jets defense is, but their offense has been terrible, and I think the Raiders are playing with a freedom and confidence that they lacked under Josh McDaniels. Coming off a massive win last Sunday, I think the Raiders come out at home with energy that will give them the edge against a Jets team that I think is a tad overrated. Keep in mind that one week before the Raiders beat them 30-6, the Jets beat the Giants just 13-10 in overtime (and probably should have lost if not for a kick off the uprights). Give me the Raiders to win this one, but it’ll be close.
For all the betting odds on the Raiders taking on the Jets on Sunday, go to BetOnline.AG!
