Denver at L.V. Raiders
Time: 3:05 PM EST, CBS
Spread: LV -3.5
Total: 50.5
Odds c/o 5dimes
The Las Vegas Raiders have amassed a 5-3 record with a 1-2 mark at home where it will host Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. The Raiders find itself 3.5-point favorites in the affair, with the over-under set at 50.5 points per oddsmakers at bookmaker 5dimes. The game will air at 3 PM EST on CBS Networks.
LV
Las Vegas has won its last two games over the Cleveland Browns and LA Chargers to emerge with a 5-3 mark and a second-place seating in the AFC West, which is led by the 8-1 Chiefs. The Raiders have a well-rounded offense, featuring a No. 9 ranked rush offense that generates 131.3 yards per game. The Raiders rank No. 11 in scoring, putting up 27.3 points per game. Unfortunately, the defense is not as strong, giving up 28.6 to finish with a point differential of -1.3.
The Raiders “O” relies on the talents of QB Derek Carr. He has thrown 69.8 percent for completion with over 2,000 yards through eight games, and his passer rating is an outstanding 110.0. Carr has 16 touchdowns with just two interceptions, and he has been sacked only 1.6 times per game. He has rushed 23 times for 108 yards and has 10 first down rushes this season on just 23 rushing attempts. That aspect has proven vital, even with Josh Jacobs rushing 161 times this season already and having racked up six Touchdowns. Devontae Booker has attempted just 33 rushes, but he leads the team with 6.8 yards-per-attempt and has managed one touchdown.
In terms of receiving targets, Carr has four big ones, with Josh Jacobs coming out of the backfield to sometimes provide a fifth. Darren Waller leads the team in yardage at 394, but he has caught 50 passes to a tune of fewer than eight yards per catch. The tight end leads the team in first downs with 27 and ranks No. 2 in scoring with four receiving touchdowns. Hunter Renfrow is the top-ranking wideout with 369 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to ranking No. 2 in first downs with 17. Jacobs has caught 19 of 26 targeted passes but averages just 6.6 yards-per-catch and has just two first downs via receiving, to go with his 37 rushing first downs.
DEN
The Denver Broncos are 3-5 and in third place in the AFC West, behind its opponent today, Las Vegas, and behind the 8-1 leading Chiefs. The Broncos began its 2020 season with three straight losses, and have been notably better since that point. It has won three of its last five games, including an 18-12 win over the New England Patriots. The offense is still managing just 21.8 points per game, but the rush offense has been showing more signs and the team is still struggling to convert a good percentage of its third downs. Adding in a mix of some miscues, some turnovers, and it has not equated to a good balance, not with the defense allowing 27.1 points per game itself.
The Broncos have benefitted from Drew Lock being available and decent. He threw for 313 yards last week with two touchdowns, but he threw another interception, and he has had six of those this season already. He also managed just 6.5 yards-per-attempt, and the Broncos lost again 27-34 to the Atlanta Falcons. Lock ranks No. 30 in Quarterback rating at just 38.5 with his 6 to 6 TD/INT ratio, and his overall season outlook is hardly that good. Lock has rushed 20 times for just 2.9 yards-per-attempt, and the Broncos are a team also rostering both Jeff Driskel and Brett Rypien. It remains to be seen how long it sticks with Lock as the starter.
Melvin Gordon III has rushed 4.1 yards-per-attempt on 96 carries this season, and he leads the team with four of its seven rushing touchdowns. Phillip Lindsay has rushed at team-best 5.8 per-carry, and he has a 55-yard rush to his credit. The Broncos average 4.3 per-carry as a team, and it has averaged 111.6 rushing yards per game. The top receiver is Jerry Judy who has caught just 30 of 61 targeted looks but leads the team with 484 yards. Tim Patrick leads in touchdowns with three, but Jeudy leads in first downs 24, to Patrick’s 17. Tight end Noah Fant has been big this season with 349 yards and two touchdowns, and he also ranks No. 3 in first downs with 15.
