No underwear bets here, unlike some parts of Raider Nation. To quote the great Randy Moss, “Just straight cash homie.” All lines are as of Friday morning via DraftKings. Let’s take a look at some bets for the Las Vegas Raiders’ matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
Smartest Bet: Under 44.5 Total Points (-110)
This is an easy call. The Colts’ run-heavy offense should make for a short game. Also, the Raiders’ lack of offensive firepower should make it hard for them to get much going against a tough Indy defense. I would expect the Colts to stay under 25 and the Raiders to stay under 20. If both of those things happen, the under hits.
Safest Bet: Colts Under 3.5 Touchdown (-200)
Even if you think the Colts will win this game handily, which is where I’m leaning, this is a safe bet. The ideal game for the Colts would be to dominate on the ground with Jonathan Taylor. That will chew up a lot of time. Also, the Raiders are unlikely to score enough for the Colts to need a ton of points. It’s hard to see any world in which they get four touchdowns.
Best Risky Bet: Raiders Moneyline (+260)
The Raiders are significant underdogs in this week’s game, and for good reason. They haven’t looked very good since Thanksgiving. Even in their last two victories, they barely beat a COVID-19-riddled Browns team and a Drew Lock-led Broncos team. Indianapolis represents a steep increase in competition. Regardless, the odds don’t match the Raiders’ chances, which is why I like this bet.
This is pretty much a must-win game for the Raiders. A loss would leave their playoff hopes at a minimum. This is not the case for the Colts, who still have a decent shot at the postseason even with a loss. Also, while Indy did get a huge boost from the league’s new COVID-19 guidelines, they’re still going to be affected. While Carson Wentz and many other Colts starters will be able to play in the game, many haven’t been able to practice this week. Also, the Raiders’ run defense got a huge confidence boost after stifling Denver’s ground game. If they can do the same this week, and make Wentz beat them, an inspired Raiders team could find a way to pull this out.
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*Top Photo: Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group