Los Angeles at Las Vegas

The Los Angeles Rams made a vast improvement last season and many expect this team to be a Super Bowl quality team in 2018. There is often a big difference playing with lower expectations as the Rams did a year ago. And it is very often a much more difficult task playing with high expectations. The Raiders signed John Gruden to a 10-year, $100 million contract. He immediately made some moves toward experience as the Raiders signed six players over 30 years old, as well as Doug Martin, who will be 30 on his next birthday. Gruden is known for the short passing West Coast offense and with a QB like Derek Carr, who gets rid of the ball as fast as anyone, I look for the Oakland attack to take a step forward this season. The Rams have a tough task opening on the road against a Gruden offense that will look a lot different than the Oakland offense from a year ago, and really no film on sets they will be running. Oakland is home, and has a "hidden" edge here with the Gruden offense; not seen in Oakland yet. Make the play on Oakland.