Sharp bets on side in pivotal Raiders-Broncos game

2 years ago 227

Six days aft Jon Gruden abruptly resigned arsenic Raiders coach successful October, the squad defeated the Broncos 34-24 arsenic 5-point roadworthy underdogs.

The statement enactment is pick’em for Sunday’s rematch astatine Allegiant Stadium aft the Raiders opened arsenic 1½-point favorites.

The enactment determination was caused by crisp enactment connected the Broncos. South Point sportsbook manager Chris Andrews said helium took “a small spot of crisp play connected Denver +1,” and Red Rock Resort sportsbook manager Chuck Esposito reported crisp enactment connected the Broncos +1½.

Caesars Sportsbook and Station Casinos lists the Raiders -1, and the full is 41½.

“I’m truly amazed that the fig dropped,” Esposito said. “We opened it 1½, and we were the highest fig retired determination for a bully 48 hours. I’m truly amazed it didn’t spell up.

“The Raiders are bushed up successful the secondary due to the fact that of COVID and injuries. But this is simply a Denver squad that’s starting Drew Lock and that the Raiders person already beaten once.”

Lock volition commencement astatine backmost for the Broncos successful spot of Teddy Bridgewater, who was ruled retired aft suffering a concussion successful past week’s 15-10 location nonaccomplishment to the Bengals.

“There’s nary quality betwixt Bridgewater and Lock, arsenic acold arsenic the constituent spread,” Westgate SuperBook vice president Jay Kornegay said. “If Bridgewater was playing, it would beryllium the aforesaid line. I’ve ever thought Lock didn’t get a just shake. I cognize Lock’s ceiling is simply a batch higher than Bridgewater, but his level is simply a batch lower.”

Lock, successful his 3rd play successful Denver, has an 8-10 grounds arsenic a starter and has completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 4,180 yards, 24 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

The aboriginal enactment connected the crippled has been airy astatine Las Vegas books. That said, Kornegay said 90 percent of the tickets are connected the Raiders (7-7, 5-9 ATS), who are moving connected a abbreviated week aft Monday’s 16-14 triumph astatine Cleveland.

Denver (7-7, 7-7 ATS) has mislaid 3 of its past 5 and doesn’t fig to garner immoderate enactment from the betting public.

“I don’t deliberation anybody is looking to stake the Broncos astatine this point,” Kornegay said. “We’re astir apt going to request the Broncos, but I don’t deliberation it volition beryllium a precocious measurement game.”

Esposito besides expects Station to beryllium rooting for the Broncos.

“I deliberation the nationalist volition backmost the Raiders, and we volition request the Broncos erstwhile it kicks disconnected Sunday,” helium said.

The AFC West matchup is simply a virtual playoff elimination game, arsenic some teams request a triumph to support their postseason hopes alive.

“The victor has a shot,” Kornegay said. “The loser is decidedly out.”

After a 5-2 start, the Raiders mislaid 5 of their adjacent 7 games earlier beating the short-handed Browns connected Daniel Carlson’s 48-yard tract extremity arsenic clip expired.

The Raiders are riding a 5-0 screen streak astatine location against the Broncos, who person gone nether successful 7 of their past 8 games and are tied with the Jaguars for an NFL-leading 11-3 nether record.

Contact newsman Todd Dewey astatine tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 connected Twitter.

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