Oakland has high hopes this season but has been hard to peg, as its defense has been leaky and the offense has been inconsistent. The Raiders have the more talented overall roster but the home field advantage will give Tennessee a slight edge. This will be an intriguing showdown between a pair of AFC foes used to be lower in the standings but hoping for more in 2016.
Watch this regular season Week 3 matchup live on Sunday, September 25, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at Nissan Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Raiders +1
Titans -1
Over/Under 47
Odds Analysis
This game is tough to judge, as there is a split opinion. The Raiders had more buzz heading into the season but narrowly beat the Saints before falling at home to the Falcons. That has taken some shine off them, and now only 47 percent of bettors have them covering the spread in this matchup.
The scoring total looks nicely pegged as the “over” and the “under” are getting wagered on early at an identical clip.
Injury Report
Derrick Morgan -- The Titans linebacker missed the Lions game with a hamstring issue. He is a stable piece on the defense and will aim to return for this one. Kevin Dodd filled in against Detroit and had a sack.
Player to Watch
DeMarco Murray -- It’s been an up and down few years for Murray. He led the NFL in rushing with the Cowboys in 2014, struggled after signing a big free agent deal with the Eagles in 2015 and then was traded to the Titans this offseason.
He was impressive in the win over Detroit, accumulating 89 yards rushing and 56 yards receiving. Murray averaged 7.4 yards per carry in the game, and the Titans are intent on running the ball effectively in 2016.
The Raiders have gone against a pair of top-tier quarterbacks in Drew Brees and Matt Ryan early on, so it will be interesting to see how they do against a fun-first attack. The Titans have a promising backup in Derrick Henry, but Murray will be the workhorse and his success can often closely parallel the team success.
Free ATS Pick
There are many games during an NFL season when home teams are able to pull off close wins against better foes, and this could be one of them.
The Titans made enough improvements this offseason to make them a bit more competitive, and the continued progress of quarterback Marcus Mariota should help. Tennessee likely won’t compete for a playoff spot this year, but improvement from last season is paramount on capturing winnable home games like this one.
The Raiders were a fashionable choice to make the playoffs and compete for the divisional title in 2016. While it is still early, the defense has not lived up to its bargain, and Oakland looks closer to the middle of the pack than the cream of the crop.
Derek Carr and Amari Cooper are a fantastic pass-and-catch duo, but they need help from a Raiders defense which is giving up way too many points. Tennessee likely won’t light up the scoreboard since it’s not how the offense is built, but the Titans can still claim this win in a close one.
A late field goal could be the difference, and an Oakland loss would leave the team feeling disappointed. That seems like the most likely outcome, with the “under” the correct call when it comes to the scoring total.
NFL Odds: Titans 24, Raiders 21
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