NFL Picks Against the Spread Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders, AFC West Preview

Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders
Sunday, 10/23/11, 4:05 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Oakland -3.5
Current Betting Line: Oakland -4.5
Opening Total: 43
Current Total: 41.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Raiders vs. Broncos NFL Preview — Oakland Raiders RB Darren McFadden will have a new quarterback handing off to him Sunday

Kansas City comes off a bye week and will be looking to gain revenge from losing both series meetings last year against the Oakland Raiders, including a 23-20 overtime loss as one-point road favorites on this field. “This is a very important game for us,” commented Chiefs head coach Todd Haley. “It’s a division game. It’s a division road game. It’s a team that beat us twice last year.” The Chiefs have turned around their season in picking up consecutive victories, but those opponents have combined for just one victory this year. Kansas City is 4-9 ATS versus divisional foes and the ‘under’ is 7-5 in those contests.

The Chiefs are going to need a big game by quarterback Matt Cassel, who threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts as one-point road underdogs in Week 5. Injuries have hampered this team through the early going, but the bye week has given the coaching staff the necessary time to make full adjustments. Running back Jamaal Charles and safety Eric Berry were both lost for the season early on.

Oakland lost starting quarterback Jason Campbell to a broken collarbone in last week’s 24-17 win over the Cleveland Browns as seven-point home favorites, but traded for another during the week. Former Cincinnati Bengals star Carson Palmer is now set to be under center for the Silver and Black. “This guy can play and he knows hot to play the game and he knows how to elevate the players around him,” commented Raiders first-year head coach Hue Jackson. The transition will be an interesting one, but the team has a bye week after this game, which will help everyone involved due to the team playing three consecutive divisional games. Oakland is 11-2 ATS versus AFC West opponents.

The Raiders will likely rely heavily on a rushing attack that is led by Darren McFadden, who enters the week as the top running back in football in terms of yards gained. The former Arkansas Razorbacks star ran for 91 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win over the Browns. Oakland is two games over .500 for the first time since 2000, which has motivated the team to go for it this year due to the passing of owner Al Davis on Oct. 8. Sunday will be the 102nd regular-season meeting between these two franchises, with the Raiders trailing, 47-52-2, including losses in seven of the last eight in the Bay Area.