Although most US sportsbooks around the nation were expecting the AFC West to be one of the toughest divisions in pro football, the division isn’t quite living up to that expectation. Right now the west is lead by the 6-4 Kansas City Chiefs, who looked like the best team in the league through the first half of the season. However, the Chiefs have lost 4 out of the last 5 and are starting to look like a team that could miss out on this year’s playoffs. Behind the struggling Chiefs are the Los Angeles Chargers and the Oakland Raiders, both of whom share a 4-6 record. In lieu of a consistent divisional leader, both the Raiders and the Chargers are poised to make a push for the lead in the division.
One team that is far from playoff contention are the 3-7 Denver Broncos who are currently pegged as the worst team in the division. The Broncos have already gone through two quarterbacks this season and are getting ready to start their third, Paxton Lynch, this upcoming Sunday. With this in mind, the best sportsbook reviews on the web will rightfully convince bettors to refrain from taking the team with the fresh quarterback. Furthermore, the Broncos just released their offensive coordinator, so there’s no reason to believe this team will be clicking this weekend. Just how big of a landslide are US sportsbooks predicting for this weekend’s matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders.
Betting Denver
The two people bettors should take a look at before betting on the Broncos are Paxton Lynch and Bill Musgrave, the mast stepping in for the recently released Mike McCoy. During the Broncos’ six-game losing streak, McCoy’s offense has averaged 14.2 points per game. However, most NFL betting pundits will be quick to tell you that it’s not a lack of creativity on behalf of the coordinator but rather a lack of execution from the quarterback position. Trevor Siemian got the start at the beginning of the season but got pulled after throwing for 9 touchdowns to 10 interceptions and posting a measly 76.8 passer rating. Osweiler, the most notorious free agent in NFL history and the man even the winless Browns decided they didn’t want a part of, was brought in to take over for Siemian but it was a similar tale either way; 3 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, a 65.5 passer rating and a rather lengthy losing streak.
So with all that in mind, it’s not preposterous to assume that the quarterback position should take more blame than the man calling the plays. Osweiler performed poorly in Houston and Cleveland didn’t see anything worth keeping. So why a fire a man who probably has kids to feed, just because of them? Lynch is a two year player who threw for 59 touchdowns, 23 interceptions in college.
Betting Oakland
The Raiders enter this Sunday’s game with their tail between their legs after getting pummeled by the New England Patriots in Mexico this past Sunday, 33-8. Either way, it still feels like they’re your best option when placing a sportsbook bet on this matchup. Bettors should expect a rebound out of Oakland this weekend.
US Sportsbook Betting Lines & Odds:
Denver Broncos +4 (-106) 43 ½ (-115) +172
Oakland Raiders -4 (-114) 43 ½ (-105) -205