Monday Night Football Picks: Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos

Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
Monday, 9/23/13, 8:40 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Denver -14.5
Current Betting Line: Denver -14
Opening Total: 49.5
Current Total: 48.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Denver Broncos are 13-6-2 ATS as favorites since 2011

Oakland is 59-44-2 all-time against Denver, but it has compiled a 7-8-1 mark in the series when featured on Monday Night Football. “It’s a tremendous rivalry,” commented Raiders head coach Dennis Allen. The Raiders face a major challenge defensively, as the Broncos have scored 40-plus points in each of their first two games this season, which is important to consider when making your pro football picks Monday night. Oakland is 0-5 SUATS in all games when the betting total is 49.5 or higher over the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 3-2 in that situation.

The Raiders need a huge game out of running back Darren McFadden, who carried the ball 19 times for 129 yards in last week’s 19-9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars as 3.5-point home favorites, while going UNDER the betting total for a second consecutive contest to open the 2013 NFL campaign. Oakland will need quarterback Terrelle Pryor to complete some passes down field to open up things offensively, but he’s a dangerous dual-threat that Denver must account for throughout this affair.

Denver has been arguably the most impressive team in the league in the first two weeks, as it returns home after picking up a 41-23 blowout win over the New York Giants as 3.5-point road favorites on Sept. 15. The Broncos are currently riding a 13-game regular-season win streak, as they prepare to be featured on this primetime broadcast for the 66th time in franchise history. Quarterback Peyton Manning is the first player in league history to throw at least nine touchdowns and zero interceptions through the first two weeks of the season. Denver is 13-6-2 ATS as a favorite since 2011, with the OVER going 12-7-2 in that situation.

The Broncos have won six consecutive games against AFC West teams, but their longest such streak is 11 victories in a row in that situation. Denver is 20-11-1 when playing in front of its home fans on Monday Night Football. Since 1996, the team owns the NFL’s best record in the first month of the regular season—posting a 44-20 record during the past 17 years.