The Denver Broncos open their 2019-20 NFL season with a Monday Night Football matchup against the Oakland Raiders on 9/9/19 at the Oakland Coliseum.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos had a 6-10 season and the main reason for that was subpar quarterback performance. Former starting quarterback Case Keenum was ranked just 29th last season in quarterback rating and the team scoring suffered as they ranked just 23rd in the league in scoring. So GM John Elway has brought in former Super Bowl winner Joe Flacco who was beaten to the job by Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. In addition to Flacco’s signing, Elway also moved up in the draft to pick QB Drew Luck and now there is tension as to who will start. Their defense also ranked just 22nd in total yards allowed and CB Brandon Marshall isn’t expected to return next season. Vic Fangio was hired as head coach with the hopes of transforming the defense as he did in Chicago with the Bears.
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are looking optimistic after a miserable 4-12 record last season. The Raiders starting quarterback Derk Carr is coming off a season where he finished 27th in the league in quarterback rating. His subpar season resulted in the 27th ranked scoring offense and the 23rd ranked team in total offense produced. Wide receiver Antonio Brown and offensive tackle Trent Brown have been brought in to help Carr. On the other end, their defense was just as bad, ranking at the bottom in points per game scored and 26th in total defense. John Gruden tried to shore up this side in the draft, particularly with DT Clelin Ferrell out of Clemson. But will these be enough? That remains to be seen.
Who Wins?
The Broncos are the NFL betting underdogs in this match up. They are 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played. Denver is 3-3 SU in their last six games played on the road. The Raiders are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played. Oakland is 2-3 SU in their last five games played at home. Head to head, the Broncos are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played against the Raiders.
Denver is 3-8 SU in their last 11 games played against AFC conference opponents but the Broncos are 17-3 SU in their last 20 September games played. Oakland is 3-11 SU in their last 14 games against the AFC Conference and the Raiders are 1-7 SU in their last 8 games against the AFC West Division.
I’m not really a fan of the Raiders in this game but when I look at the quarterback situation in Denver, I think Joe Flacco and Case Keenum are in the same boat as far as QB rankings are concerned. The difference here for me will be Oakland’s acquisition of Antonio Brown. I think Brown delivers here and will ultimately pay dividends for the Raiders. I’m picking the Oakland Raiders to beat the Denver Broncos on 9/9/19.
Other Bets To Make
Denver is 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Broncos are 4-2 ATS in their last six games played on the road. Oakland is 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Raiders are 3-2 ATS in their last five games played at home. Head to head, the Raiders are 3-0 ATS in their last three games played against the Broncos.
Broncos
+2 (-110)
Raiders
-2 (-110)
Odds were taken from Titanbet.com as of 7/25/19
The Broncos are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall against the Raiders. Denver is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against the AFC West Division. Oakland is 8-4 ATS in their last 12 games played in the month of September and the Raiders are 4-2 ATS in their last six Week 1 game played. The Raiders have outscored the Broncos by an average of 6.33 points per game in their last 3 games played. Again, I’m not a fan of the Raiders but I have more questions on the Broncos.I think Antonio Brown pays dividends here and the Raiders are going to cover this minimal spread. Prediction: Raiders -2
The total has gone under in nine out of the last 10 games played by Denver. The Broncos have seen the total go under in five out of their last six games played on the road. The total has gone under in 13 out of the last 20 games played by the Raiders. The under is 7-3 in the last 10 home games played by Oakland. Head to head, the under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams.
Broncos
O 43.5 -110
Raiders
U 43.5. -110
Odds were taken from Titanbet.com as of 7/25/19
The total has gone under in five out of the last seven games between these two teams in Oakland. The total has gone under in each of the last five games between the Broncos and Raiders. These teams combined to score an average of 39.3 points per game in their last 10 meetings and 38.33 in their last three meetings. I think this is going to be a low-scoring game with average looking quarterbacks playing for both sides. Prediction: Under 43.5