Baltimore Ravens vs Las Vegas Raiders

Combine the Ravens (-410) and the Chargers (-230) into a 2-team parlay at -127 odds.

The Las Vegas Raiders finally get to play a meaningful game in front of fans for the first time at Allegiant Stadium, and that already gives them the motivational edge in this matchup with the Ravens. Baltimore has been ravaged by injuries over the past few weeks, losing key players including running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, and CB Marcus Peters. The Raiders expect to make the playoffs this year with an improved defense and offensive line. New defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will be put to the test in trying to contain Lamar Jackson, but he has experience in that he was on the Chargers' coaching staff when they played against Jackson and the Ravens in the playoffs three years ago. Bradley sent out as many defensive backs as he could to add more speed to the defense and it worked enough to beat Baltimore 23-17. Derek Carr passed for more than 4,000 yards for the third year in a row and he has Marcus Mariota backing him up for certain situations. The Raiders are 5-1-1 ATS their past seven Monday night games, including an upset against New Orleans in Week 2 last season. They have covered four of their past five openers and MNF Opener favorites tend to do very poorly against the numbers. Play the Raiders to keep this one close.

Oakland hasn't packed it in for first-year coach Jon Gruden, coming off a 23-21 win at Arizona. The Raiders are on an 8-3 ATS run in games played on field-turf. They are a double-digit dog to a Baltimore team with plenty of problems, on a 2-4 SU/1-5 ATS skid. The last four games the Baltimore defense has allowed 24, 36, 23 and 21 points. And the offense is averaging 19 points per game over the last six contests, yet they are big chalk this week. Baltimore is going with 21-year-old QB Lamar Jackson, who didn't throw a TD pass last week with one pick. His QB rating this season is 40.4. The Ravens have failed to cover five in a row at home against teams with losing road records, as well as a 2-5 ATS run against losing teams. Baltimore's issues defending tight ends has been an ongoing problem and TE Jared Cook is the Raiders top playmaker with 65 targets and four touchdowns to lead the team. And his 12.8-yards per reception is one of the best marks at the position across the league. All of which makes this a great matchup for the big dog. Take the points and play Oakland.

The average points scored in an NFL has been slowly dropping and the 44.1ppg that have been scored to date this season would be the lowest in many years if it continues. Chances are we will see a rise. Oakland caught a bad break when Derek Carr went down with a back injury and EJ Manuel has taken over. The oakland offense has been limited to just 10ppg in their last 2 but that was vs a much improved Washington defense, and a top rated Denver defense. Baltimore has allowed 70 points the last 2 weeks and Oakland will move the ball a more effectively here. Baltimore had their first 2 games see opponents turn the ball over 10 times, and the defensive numbers are very misleading. Oakland has played 7 straight as a home favorite to the over. Bad offenses generating 4.8 yards per play or worse, tend to improve with time, and the last 52 times a team with that poor an offense took the field they are 38-14 to the over. Make the play on the over.