Silver and Black Look To Improve Under Pete Carroll
Raiders New Era!
There is another new era coming to the Las Vegas Raiders. This one will start with Pete Carroll as their coach. They also have a minority owner that people are familiar with. His name is Tom Brady. Will the football legends lead to pride and success coming back to the Silver and Black? Or will they lose more, like so many tourists in Sin City casinos?
For the best NFL expert picks, lock in on BetUS TV.
What are the odds on the Raiders?
The totals (over/under) on Las Vegas are a moderate 6½ wins. They are the longest of longshots to win the AFC West at +1500. To win the Super Bowl, they are +10000. What one can tell from these odds is that Carroll has his work cut out to make this team a contender.
The problem with the Raiders, in addition to the overall level of talent on their roster, is they are in a division with the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos. Each of those teams figures to have a strong say in the AFC playoff picture in 2025.
What has Carroll done to try and improve the Raiders’ chances? He has extended Maxx Crosby’s contract. Traded for his former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith and used the team’s first-round draft pick on Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
NFL betting odds Raiders still figure to see the team as the underdog in many of their games. That simply follows logic when a squad has its totals set at 6½ wins in a 17-game season. The 2023 season saw them win eight games so it hasn’t been that long ago when they topped the total. Still, expect to be getting points when it comes to Raiders point spread picks, especially in the six games against AFC West foes.
Where Is the Raiders’ Offense Ranked?
The Raiders’ against-the-spread record last season was 8-9, way better than their overall mark of 4-13. The two previous seasons saw them go 7-9-1 ATS in each. One could attribute this to a weak offensive line. The quarterback position has been weak since Derek Carr exited for New Orleans, not that he was doing outstanding things. Another factor that led to the Raiders’ offense’s demise in 2024 was that Josh Jacobs left for Green Bay.
One of the top running backs in the league took Las Vegas’ rushing attack with him. They ran for 1,387 yards. By comparison, opponents rushed for 1,987. Foes gained 4.4 yards per carry compared to the Raiders’ 3.6.
They had three starting quarterbacks: Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, and Desmond Ridder. Such fluctuation at a key position only leads to overall problems when it comes to trying to put points on the scoreboard.
Carroll has to be hoping the veteran Smith will bring some of the success he had in Seattle to Las Vegas. There is no guarantee, of course, that will happen because Smith has been in the league a long time and doesn’t figure to have many years left in the NFL.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
Drew Allar To The Raiders In 2026 NFL Mock Draft Courtesy Of CBS