by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Nov 17, 2022
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Venue: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Where to watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Broncos -3
FanDuel: Broncos -2.5
BetMGM: Broncos -2.5
Caesars: Broncos -3
Season record
Raiders: 2-7
Broncos: 3-6
The NFL season is heating up with a lot of great games! Did you see this week's slate of games? They might not be like this forever, but man, it's going to be hard to replicate what we saw in Buffalo and Green Bay this weekend. But the playoff races are heating up at the right time and they are certainly relaying some excitement as the season progresses. You know you want to get involved in this action, as well, with our champion handicappers killing it through the NFL season with 8 more games to play for some teams, and even 7 if you're feeling lucky. Look no further than our own Al McMordie sitting at 16-9-1 in the NFL over the last 30 days, along with Sean Murphy at 16-11-0 in the last month. There's a lot of success stories as it pertains to who wants it more with the schedule entering the second half of the year. If you want the best handicapping results, make sure you're following our champion handicappers to a T and get in on this action at bigal.com!
Raiders - Broncos preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Raiders: lost 25-20 vs. Colts
Broncos: lost 17-10 at Titans
Can’t we just call this one a tie? Like, forfeit on both teams’ behalf? Do we really have to watch this game? I may not be able to make it through this one without laughing while typing, so please understand that any random clicking of my keyboard is not due to intoxication or anything.
Can’t we just call this one a tie? Like, forfeit on both teams’ behalf? Do we really have to watch this game? I may not be able to make it through this one without laughing while typing, so please understand that any random clicking of my keyboard is not due to intoxication or anything.
It’s quite literally the fact that the NFL feels the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders are worthy of a spot on the NFL schedule right now. But think about this for a second: We know this game is unequivocally going to be bad. But how bad did it have to be that the AFC matchup was moved OFF CBS and switched with the Dallas Cowboys-Minnesota Vikings matchup? Because I guarantee you that Jim Nantz and Tony Romo were going to call Denver-Vegas because the networks that be felt the AFC West would not be an abomination again.
Alas, here we are, and Nantz and Romo get Dallas-Minnesota, because why not?
The Broncos are actually favored in this game. By 3 points. Can you believe this? The Broncos, who have not scored more than 3 points it seems like all year, are favored. They are favored because the Raiders of Las Vegas found a way to lose to the Indianapolis Colts who were coached by a member of their Ring of Honor and was on ESPN the week prior.
As a noted hockey personality would say, the Raiders lost to a 42-year-old Zamboni driver WHO WORKS FOR THE TEAM.
The Raiders lost 25-20 to the Colts to waste an all-pro day from Davante Adams (9 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD) but this offense was inept once again when needed and Josh McDaniels is somehow the coach still. You try making sense of this.
"I know where I stand," said quarterback Derek Carr, crying as he gave this answer. "I love the silver and black. I'm going to give it everything I can every time I go out there, and I can't speak for everybody, for every man what's going on in their head. But I can tell you what's going on in my head, and I'm going to give it all that I can every single time."
Derek Carr is crying. The coach is shrugging at all questions. Things are going absolutely fine in Las Vegas.
Things are also going great in Denver after losing 17-10 to the Tennessee Titans because of course they did. Russell Wilson threw for 286 yards but completed 50% of his passes, while Latavius Murray was held to just 24 yards on 9 carries. Maybe it’s best we get Nathaniel Hackett and McDaniels in the same game to fully make us all combust.
"It's another close game, another one-score game," first-year Denver coach Nathaniel Hackett said of the Broncos' five losses by a combined 21 points. "We feel like the defense stepped up to the challenge with Derrick Henry. I mean, the offense has to find a way."
Maybe the offensive-minded coach should do something about that.
Prediction
I am hoping for a tie just because of the pure hilarity of this whole situation, but there does need to be a winner. And I did say that if the Raiders lost last week, I’d give up on them the rest of the year. Give me the Broncos, a team that doesn’t look like a team but will find a way with its home crowd. Broncos by 7
Betting trends
Raiders are 64-97 ATS in games where the line is between +3 and -3 since 1992.
Raiders are 6-18 ATS after being outrushed by 75 yards or more in 2 straight games since 1992.
Broncos are 30-14 ATS after losing four of five since 1992.
Statistical leaders
Raiders:
Passing: Derek Carr -- 2,128 yards, 13 TD, 5 INT
Rushing: Josh Jacobs -- 821 yards, 7 TD
Receiving: Davante Adams -- 784 yards, 8 TD
Defense: Maxx Crosby -- 7 sacks
Broncos:
Passing: Russell Wilson -- 1,980 yards, 7 TD, 5 INT
Rushing: Melvin Gordon -- 287 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Courtland Sutton -- 533 yards, 1 TD
Defense: Dre'Mont Jones -- 5.5 sacks
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Las Vegas Raiders - Denver Broncos prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NFL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
