Las Vegas Raiders (2-0 2-0 ATS) at New England Patriots (1-1 1-1 ATS)
The surprising 2-0 Raiders head back east to take on the Patriots, who were staring 2-0 in the face before being stuffed on the one-yard line in their last game to suffer their first loss of the season. Oddsmakers have faith in the home team in this game with the Pats a 6-point favorite with the total sitting at 48.
The Raiders are coming off an impressive 34-24 win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. The team has scored 34 points in each of their two games and head to the Big Easy with a full head of steam.
Cam Newton was stuffed at the goal line on the last play of the game in the Pats 35-30 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in their last game. Newton had a big game but could not find paydirt when it mattered.
These teams have not met since the 2017 season where with Tom Brady at the helm the Pats throttled the Raiders winning 33-8.
The Patriots have covered the spread in four of their last five games facing the Raiders.
Opening Sin City With a W
The Raiders were at home in their last game, which was their first in Las Vegas after moving from Oakland and they got the 10-point win even though they were outgained in total yards (424-375).
Derek Carr came up big in the win over the Saints passing for 282 yards with three TD and no INT and he has not been picked off in the first two games. Darren Waller led the Raiders with 102 receiving yards in the Monday night win and he and Carr will face a New England pass defense that gave up nearly 400 passing yards and five passing TD in their loss to the Seahawks.
Josh Jacobs was legit in the season opener but against the strong Saints’ run D he rushed for 88 yards and only averaged 3.3 yards per carry.
Can the Raiders make it three in a row? They beat the Panthers on the road in their season opener but can they do it again in New England where they are the 6.5-point underdog?
Newton Could Use Some Help
In the Pats loss to the Seahawks while Cam Newton could not get in on the final play he still carried the team. He passed for 397 yards with a TD and a pick and also led the team with only 47 rushing yards.
Newton has led New England in rushing in the first two games and the leading RB in the team is Sony Michel who has 56 yards on averaging 3.3 yards per carry.
Julian Edelman showed he is not all Tom Brady with 179 receiving yards in the loss to Seattle.
Obviously, the Raiders will have to try to contain Newton in the air and on the ground. Still, the Pats need some help from the run game, as the team is playing with fire allowing the oft-injured Newton shoulder so much of the offensive load.
The Raiders’ defense has been ok in the first two games but has to be better than ok in this game on the road facing Newton, who looks to be back to MVP form even though it is only two games into the season.
Our Prediction
The Raiders have covered the spread in their last four games and face a Pats’ team that is only 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games as a home favorite.
I picked the Raiders last week and I have to go with them again. They may not get the W but Carr and Jacobs will play well and their D will keep Newton from lighting it up. Even on the road and facing Newton, the Raiders will cover the spread getting 6.5 points.
PICK: Raiders +6