Dolphins vs. Raiders Prediction: Week 1 Odds, Picks & Best Bet

My best Dolphins vs. Raiders prediction focuses on how the injury to Brock Bowers will impact the Raiders' offense. Though the Raiders are favored by 3.5 points and many expect the Dolphins to be one of the worst teams in the league, below I explain why I think the Dolphins are being undervalued.

Sunday's game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET. The game will air on FOX and stream on FOX One.

🏈 Dolphins vs. Raiders picks & predictions

See all of our experts' NFL picks for Week 1 based on the latest NFL odds.

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💰 Dolphins vs. Raiders prediction & best bet

Dolphins +3.5 (-122 via FanDuel)

While Malik Willis is far from one of the league's best quarterbacks, he's appeared in 14 games since 2023, and he hasn't thrown a single interception. Though the Packers lost both games he saw meaningful action in last season, he completed 27 of his 32 passes for 409 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 19 rush attempts for 104 yards and two scores in those games.

The Dolphins' offense won't have the advantage in many games this season, but they will on Sunday when they face a defense that allowed 25.4 points per game last year.

For the Raiders, Kirk Cousins gets the start at quarterback after struggling with the Falcons last season. He completed just 61.7% of his passes, down from 66.9% the season before, and threw for more than 200 yards just twice in 10 appearances.

Now, Cousins has to find a way to put up yards when his top receivers are Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Jack Bech, in the absence of Bowers. While the Raiders' offense will operate through Ashton Jeanty, I expect the attack to be very predictable, even for a Dolphins defense with many questions entering the season.

Achane will dictate Sunday's result

With a 40.5-point total, this game has the second-lowest projected final score of Week 1. This makes sense considering both offenses will run through their running backs. This is another area where I give the Dolphins the advantage.

Achane rushed for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns last season, ultimately averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He's also incredible in the passing attack, as he led the Dolphins with 67 receptions last season. I expect the clock to keep moving in this game, as the running backs dictate the tempo, which should lead to a low-scoring game. And in a low-scoring contest, I'll back the underdogs.

Score prediction: Dolphins 17 Raiders 16

📊 Dolphins vs. Raiders odds

See the latest NFL odds for every Week 1 matchup.

Dolphins vs. Raiders opening odds

• Moneyline: Dolphins +145 | Raiders -175]
• Spread: Dolphins +3 (+100) | Raiders -3 (-120)
• Over/Under: Over 41.5 (-110) | Under 41.5 (-110)]

📺 How to watch Dolphins vs. Raiders: Week 1

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET
• Location: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
• TV: FOX
• Streaming: FOX One