San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders
Monday, 9/10/12, 10:15 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Oakland -1
Current Betting Line: Oakland -1
Opening Total: 46.5
Current Total: 47
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
San Diego is hoping to return to the NFL playoffs after suffering through a couple of disappointing seasons, including an even 8-8 mark a year ago. The Chargers finished that campaign with a bit of a flourish, winning four of their last five games, but head coach Norv Turner is certainly sitting on one of the hottest seats in the league. San Diego is 5-11 ATS on the road the last two years, but covered its two opportunities as underdogs of three or fewer points.
The Chargers will truly go as far as Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers can take them, as they are deploying a running back by committee approach in the season opener due to Ryan Mathews recovering from a broken collarbone during the preseason. The former NC State star will not have Vincent Jackson on the perimeter this year, as he departed to Tampa Bay, but all indications suggest that tight end Antonio Gates is the healthiest he’s been in years.
Oakland is set to begin the 2012 NFL regular season with the youngest coach in the league, with Dennis Allen leading the Silver and Black in a divisional affair in the opening week. The Raiders lead this all-time series, 57-45-2, but suffered a 38-26 setback as 2.5-point home favorites in the last meeting. It was a surprising result due to the fact the offense gained 520 total yards in that contest. Oakland is 4-5 ATS as a home favorite the last two years, with the “over” going 5-4 in those contests.
The Raiders snapped a seven-game Monday Night Football losing skid with a 23-20 victory at Denver in last year’s season opener, while going 37-26-1 all-time when featured underneath the bright lights of the event. Oakland has tallied a 5-4 record when facing off against San Diego in this situation. Quarterback Carson Palmer gets an opportunity to start out fresh after being acquired by the team from the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 23 of last year, throwing for 2,753 yards and 13 touchdowns in 10 tilts. Running back Darren McFadden is focused on trying to play every game on the schedule for the first time in his career.
Sports bettors will likely back the Chargers due to the underdog being 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings, while the Raiders are 2-5 ATS in season openers.
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