Raiders vs Broncos Odds, Lines, Picks, and Predictions for Las Vegas’ First Game Without Gruden
- The Broncos are 4-point favorites at home against the Raiders on Sunday
- The total is set at 43.5, and the Broncos are -190 favorites on the moneyline
- Raiders vs Broncos odds and lines can be found below, along with our picks
The Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders both got off to excellent starts this season, before crashing back down to Earth. With both teams at 3-2 going into their matchup this weekend, one team will resume their winning ways. While the other will drop down to .500.
Denver is coming off a 27-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Las Vegas lost 20-9 to the Bears.
Raiders vs Broncos Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Raiders | +160 | +4 (-110) | Over 43.5 (-115) |
| Denver Broncos | -190 | -4 (-110) | Under 43.5 (-105) |
Odds as of October 16th at DraftKings
The total dropped slightly, from 44 to 43.5, with the spread moving from 3.5 to 4. It is supposed to be sunny in Denver, with wind chill predicted at 45 degrees and wind speed at 4 mph.
Coaching Dysfunction
Jon Gruden abruptly resigned his head coaching position earlier this week following the release of emails which revealed Gruden’s use of homophobic, misogynistic and racist language over the course of several years. Rich Bisaccia, the special teams coordinator, was promoted to interim head coach following Gruden’s resignation.
Derek Carr went through 6 different HCs in his career and he finally had a good defense and now this happens. Never thought I’d turn into a Carr Stan but here we are.
— Renfrow SZN (3-2) (@m3at5h0w) October 12, 2021
Quarterback Comparison
In many ways, Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr are polar opposites: Bridgewater will take what the defense gives him, play smart, efficient, and limit his mistakes. He likely won’t lose the game for you. That being said, he also isn’t going to be the reason why his team wins the game, either. Derek Carr, meanwhile, will attack a defense and try to win the game for his team. That being said, he has also been known to lose games for his team as well by trying to do too much and turning the ball over.
Injury Report
The Raiders have two players with injury designations going into this game as of Saturday morning: Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is listed as doubtful, while Quinton Jefferson, another defensive tackle, is listed as questionable.
Denver, meanwhile, has four players with injury designations: Cornerback Mike Ford has been ruled out (knee), while safety Kareem Jackson (back), running back Melvin Gordon (hip), and outside linebacker Aaron Patrick (ankle) have all been designated questionable.
Moneyline
There are a few ways I could see this game going: Las Vegas could fold early in the face of adversity, Carr tries to do too much and an elite, opportunistic Denver defense makes him pay, and the Broncos run the Raiders right out of the stadium. I could also see the Raiders rally together around each other, play smart but aggressive, Denver gets punched in the mouth when they’re not expecting it, self-doubt starts to creep in, and we end up with a close game that goes either way.
Raiders get a stop, and Carr immediately hits Henry Ruggs III for a 51-yard gain. Raiders are in Charger territory and down a touchdown.
— Las Vegas Chronicle (@LVChronicle) October 5, 2021
Given that we haven’t seen Denver play a great team yet and don’t know what they really are, I can’t justify how expensive their moneyline price is (-180). Although I don’t love the Raiders in this spot to win outright, at +160 I’d strongly prefer to take my chances with the Raiders and the plus-money, rather than an overpriced favorite. Take the underdog here, but only for a half-unit or less.
The pick: Raiders moneyline (+160)
Spread
Denver has a strong defense on paper, but they are susceptible. Look for star tight end Darren Waller to have a huge afternoon for Las Vegas, while Carr also connects with young speedster Henry Ruggs for some big plays.
3rd & 10, 4Q. Bunch right, Henry Ruggs III runs the post. Steelers bring 6 man pressure with Cover 1 behind. Carr pumps to Waller, who is isolated at top, to try and affect the FS. Carr trusts Ruggs to outrun the coverage, which he does for the touchdown.#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/OHjbjDf2gh
— Ryan Holmes (@Rholm22) September 21, 2021
If Denver falls behind early, they will be forced to turn away from their reliable run game and win through the air. I anticipate this presenting problems, especially with breakout receiver Jerry Jeudy missing the game due to injuries. This all could present a big challenge, particularly for a quarterback who is most comfortable being able to pick his spots and be aggressive on his own terms, surrounded by a plethora of weapons. Take Las Vegas and the points.
The pick: Raiders +4 (-110)
Over/Under
This game is being played at Mile High, and Denver has an (at least on paper) elite defense. Both quarterbacks have their faults, with Carr having issues protecting the football and Bridgewater sometimes playing it too safe.
The pick: Under 43.5 (-110)
David graduated from Quinnipiac University with his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. A baseball, football and basketball fan, David has covered everything from local sports to Quinnipiac’s D-I teams. David also enjoys tracking his own wager predictions and modifying formulas to handicap games.
