Best Bets For Raiders vs Rams
Best bets for Raiders-Rams
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The second of two Monday Night Football games should be a fun one between Jon Gruden's Raiders and Sean McVay's Rams.
Here are our best bets on the game from Warren Sharp and Mike Clay.
Note: Odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sunday morning.
Here are our best bets on the game from Warren Sharp and Mike Clay.
Note: Odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sunday morning.
Los Angeles Rams (-4.5) at Oakland RaidersTotal: 48
PickCenter public pick: 76 percent on Los AngelesSharp: All eyes will be on Jon Gruden in this one. The Raiders have a tremendous offensive line and a solid running game, but Derek Carr looked terrible last year. Now that he's healthy, how quickly will he picks up Gruden's offense? It won't be easy in the air, as the Rams' pass defense last year ranked No. 5 in pass rush and No. 3 in pass defense, and they are even better this year. The Rams' defense added starters cornerbacks Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and nose tackle Ndamukong Suh. When you give weapons like that to DC Wade Phillips, it will be a problem that will prove tough for Gruden and Carr to solve.
Offensively, the Rams should be even better with another year in Sean McVay's system and with the addition of Brandin Cooks at wide receiver. The Raiders ranked No. 23 in the pass rush last year and are suddenly without Khalil Mack, one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL. Wide receiver Robert Woods isn't getting the credit he deserves, as he was a huge element in this receiving game last year, and adding Cooks further raises the ceiling on what Woods can deliver based on coverages. While it appears this one could be a runaway for the Rams, I'm using this week to evaluate Gruden and the Raiders offense and will pass on jumping against them in Week 1.
Lean: Rams -4.5
PickCenter public pick: 76 percent on Los AngelesSharp: All eyes will be on Jon Gruden in this one. The Raiders have a tremendous offensive line and a solid running game, but Derek Carr looked terrible last year. Now that he's healthy, how quickly will he picks up Gruden's offense? It won't be easy in the air, as the Rams' pass defense last year ranked No. 5 in pass rush and No. 3 in pass defense, and they are even better this year. The Rams' defense added starters cornerbacks Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and nose tackle Ndamukong Suh. When you give weapons like that to DC Wade Phillips, it will be a problem that will prove tough for Gruden and Carr to solve.
Offensively, the Rams should be even better with another year in Sean McVay's system and with the addition of Brandin Cooks at wide receiver. The Raiders ranked No. 23 in the pass rush last year and are suddenly without Khalil Mack, one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL. Wide receiver Robert Woods isn't getting the credit he deserves, as he was a huge element in this receiving game last year, and adding Cooks further raises the ceiling on what Woods can deliver based on coverages. While it appears this one could be a runaway for the Rams, I'm using this week to evaluate Gruden and the Raiders offense and will pass on jumping against them in Week 1.
Lean: Rams -4.5
Clay's prediction: Los Angeles Rams 26, Oakland 20
