Eagles vs Raiders: Full Week 16 Betting Preview

The NFL’s Christmas Day slate wraps up in the City of Brotherly Love (Dec. 25, 8:30 PM ET) as the Oakland Raiders (6-8, 4-8-2 ATS) visit the Philadelphia Eagles (12-2, 10-4 ATS) in a matchup of two teams on opposite ends of the playoff spectrum. Temperature at kickoff will be about 4 C. Below, you will find complete wagering advice for the game, including where to find the best odds and how to bet the moneyline, the spread, and the game total.

Team Injury Reports

RAIDERS

EAGLES

Raiders vs Eagles Team Stats

The Matchup

Philadelphia’s 34-29 Week 15 win against the New York Giants was their first full run with Nick Foles at the helm since Carson Wentz’s MVP-caliber campaign ended with an ACL tear. Foles (last seen backing up Alex Smith in KC) threw for 237 yards and four scores, giving the Eagles, at worst, a competent signal caller going forward.

Chalk up part of Foles’ Week 15 success to Philly’s infrastructure. The running back-by-committee of LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi (6.4 yards per tote since coming over from Miami), and Corey Clement have rushed for nearly 1,400 yards and seven TDs. Expect more of the same against an Oakland defense that struggles against the run –- and everything else.

The threat of that punishing ground game should give Foles and his receivers plenty of space, and the QB should spread the wealth around. Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and Zach Ertz all have at least eight TD receptions, and Trey Burton has emerged lately with five scores of his own. It’s a varied menu, and Foles should be able to capitalize on one of the many mismatches his receiving corps will have against Oakland’s secondary.

While the Eagles are playing for a path to the Super Bowl through the “Link,” Oakland is hanging off the playoff cliff and the ground around them are plummeting to the earth below. Winning out is a must, and then hoping for an 8-8 freeway pileup that somehow squeezes them through. The 538 playoff predictor gives them less than a 1% chance of making the postseason.

Getting December Beast Mode would certainly help Oakland on Monday. Marshawn Lynch has awoken from inconsistency and ineffectiveness to average nearly 6.5 yards a carry this month, but he’s going against a formidable Eagles run defense.

A big game from Derek Carr wouldn’t hurt, and neither would a receiver stepping into the spotlight and making his life easier (see Crabtree, Michael). In their last two losses, Carr has been unable to crack 215 yards passing. Getting out to a lead is paramount, as Philly’s D is most effective when the pass rush can pin its ears back and put pressure on a QB trying to make plays down the field.

Raiders vs Eagles Betting Opportunities

Betting the Raiders vs Eagles Moneyline

BEST RAIDERS MONEYLINE: +345

BEST EAGLES MONEYLINE: -400

EXPERT MONEYLINE ADVICE: Eagles (-400)
Oakland is desperate, but Philadelphia is a far superior team, even without Carson Wentz. While resting players as they eye the postseason is an option, it’s more for the Eagles to both secure home-field and get Foles the reps he needs to be ready for the playoffs. It’s not exactly the best payout, but this isn’t the game to be eyeing an upset.

Betting the Raiders vs Eagles Against the Spread

BEST RAIDERS SPREAD: +9.5

BEST EAGLES SPREAD: -9

EXPERT AGAINST-THE-SPREAD ADVICE: Eagles (-9)
There is something to be said about going with the more desperate team, but the Raiders have been that team the last two weeks, and have looked awful against both the Chiefs and Cowboys. Also, if you believe in familiarity, the last time Foles played the Raiders, he went berserk, tying an NFL-record with seven TD passes. Not likely to happen again, but I believe Philly covers. Easily.

Raiders vs Eagles Totals Betting

BEST OVER ODDS: 47 (-110)

BEST UNDER ODDS: 47.5 (-110)

EXPERT TOTALS ADVICE: over 47.5
Fully expect the Eagles to pump in their usual 30+ points per game, but it’s Philly’s recent defensive lapses that brings this to the over. They’ve allowed an average of nearly 30 per game in their last three, including 29 against the offensively challenged G-Men.