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The Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos meet in an AFC West Week 1 battle Sunday. Kickoff from Empower Field at Mile High is set for 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Raiders vs. Broncos, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.
The Raiders are coming into the 2023 season with a change at QB after Jimmy Garappolo signed with the team in free agency. With the rest of their key pieces staying the same fans are hopeful that Garoppolo will take the team to places that QB Derek Carr could not.
After a disappointing 5-12 record in 2022 Broncos fans are praying that new Coach Sean Payton can take this team to the places they thought they’d go after trading for QB Russell Wilson before the 2022 season. The preseason was full of injuries for Denver, particularly in the WR room as the Broncos are expected to be down 2 of their top 4 WRs vs. Las Vegas.
Las Vegas was 3-3 straight up and 4-2 against the spread (ATS) in division games last year, the Under was 4-2 in such games.
Denver went 1-5 overall and 3-3 ATS vs. divisional opponents last season, with the Over being 4-2 in such games.
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Raiders at Broncos odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 6:26 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Raiders +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Broncos -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Raiders +3 (+100) | Broncos -3 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 43 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Raiders at Broncos key injuries
Raiders
- WR DeAndre Carter (knee) questionable
- OT Dalton Wagner (undisclosed) IR
Broncos
- LB Baron Browning (knee) out
- WR Jerry Jeudy (hamstring) questionable
- WR Tim Patrick (achilles) IR
Raiders at Broncos picks and predictions
Prediction
Raiders 21, Broncos 17
Moneyline
LEAN RAIDERS (+145).
I am not super worried about the transition to Garoppolo at QB for the Raiders as I believe he is a very slight step-up from Carr, and I expect the team to adjust just fine with him under center. RB Josh Jacobs and WR Davante Adams are lethal weapons that he will have at his disposal and I expect them to give this Broncos defense some trouble.
This only a lean because Mile High Stadium is a very tough place to play and I do believe Payton will greatly help this Broncos team.
Against the spread
BET RAIDERS +3 (+100).
The Broncos struggled in divisional games last year and while some of that will be alleviated under Payton, they still have a lot of problems. I expect the Raiders pass rush led by LB Maxx Crosby to cause troubles for Wilson and this below-average Broncos offensive line. The Broncos simply don’t have the arsenal to blow out this Raiders team and I expect the Raiders to cover here, even in a loss.
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Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 43 (-110).
The Raiders do have some offensive weapons, but I don’t believe Garoppolo is a good enough QB to propel this game to hit the Over, especially when I expect the Broncos to have trouble generating touchdowns. I do believe CB Patrick Surtain II will slow down Adams, and that will hurt the Raiders’ chances of generating a lot of offense in the passing game. The Raiders’ secondary is questionable, but I don’t believe the Broncos have the personnel to expose that weakness in this game.
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