Betting Picks

Broncos vs Raiders Odds: MNF NFL Week 16 Betting Preview and Pick

The Monday night action for the 2018 NFL season concludes quietly in Week 16 as the Denver Broncos visit the Oakland Raiders in a meaningless game. Before we get to the Broncos vs Raiders odds, though, there is one huge storyline here. It could be the Raiders’ last game in Oakland.

They are set to move to Las Vegas for the 2020 season and were planning to stay in Oakland through 2019. However, recently the city filed a federal lawsuit against the Raiders and NFL. So, it’s likely the Raiders will have to find a temporary home for the 2019 campaign.

Owner Mark Davis doesn’t want to help fund the city’s lawsuit with the millions of dollars he would pay in rent for one more year at the decrepit Oakland Coliseum. Playing in Vegas next year isn’t an option with the new stadium still under construction. A decision will have to be made by very early February at the latest, so the NFL can proceed with the 2019 schedule.

Denver looks for the season sweep as it beat the visiting Raiders 20-19 in Week 2 on a Brandon McManus 36-yard field goal with six seconds left. The Broncos vs Raiders odds have Denver as 3-point favorites, but Oakland will be our against the spread pick. The total is 43.5.

Why Oakland will cover the Broncos vs Raiders odds

The Broncos aren’t likely to care much. Their playoff hopes disappeared following a 17-16 home loss to Cleveland last Saturday. Meanwhile, the Raiders should will be fired up for what could be their last game in the city.

Oakland has played fairly well in its past two home games. They lost by just a touchdown to Kansas City, and upset Pittsburgh. QB Derek Carr’s numbers are better at home this year than on the road. He has thrown 301 passes without an interception overall, marking a franchise record. It’s also the longest active such streak in the NFL after Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers threw a pick Sunday to see his streak end at 402 (NFL record).

Carr might get back one of his best linemen this week in Kelechi Osemele. It would certainly be helpful, too, as Carr has been sacked a league-high 47 times.

Denver betting notes for Monday

Broncos coach Vance Joseph made a puzzling decision in last Saturday’s 17-16 home loss to Cleveland. Down 17-13 with fourth-and-1 at the Cleveland 6-yard line with under five minutes left, Joseph opted to try a field goal rather than go for it. That’s despite the team having just driven down the field on that Browns defense. Denver also had only one timeout left. There’s little chance that Joseph is back in 2019. He probably lost the locker room with that decision.

One bright spot Thursday was future Hall of Famer Von Miller passing Simon Fletcher to become the franchise’s all-time sacks leader with 98. That’s third-most among active players (Julius Peppers has 158.5 and Terrell Suggs 132.5). Miller has 14.5 sacks this year, the second highest single-season total of his career and tied for second-most in the league.

Oakland vs. Denver line movement

The NFL odds for this game have seen the spread rise from 2.5, while the total has dropped from an opening of 45.

Oakland vs. Denver matchup trends

• The Broncos have covered two of their past eight against AFC West foes.
• Denver has just four wins and five covers in its past 17 road games.
• The home side is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings between the teams.