The Miami Dolphins open their 2026 season on the road Sunday at Allegiant Stadium against a Raiders team that is also starting over. Accordingly, two franchises in the early stages of rebuilds are meeting in a late-afternoon FOX NFL odds window.
Miami arrives with a new general manager in Jon-Eric Sullivan. In addition to a new head coach in Jeff Hafley and a new quarterback in Malik Willis. Coincidentally, all of them arrived from Green Bay after the Dolphins released Tua Tagovailoa and traded away veteran pieces.
Willis is a dual-threat whose legs and arm give the offense a different look than last year’s scheme. The attack will lean heavily on De’Von Achane. He is the one established playmaker left after the roster was stripped down.
Hafley, a defensive coach by background, will try to get production from a young group, including Jordyn Brooks in the middle and a first-round corner in Chris Johnson. The rest of the skill positions are filled with rookies and short-term veterans.
By contrast, Las Vegas is further along in its reset. Klint Kubiak takes over after a Super Bowl as Seattle’s offensive coordinator. The Raiders used the first overall pick on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. But the Miami-area product will sit behind veteran Kirk Cousins to open the year.
Certainly, Cousins gives the offense a steady hand while Mendoza learns. The supporting cast also includes tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty is expected to be available after an ankle sprain.
Additionally, the defense is still anchored by Maxx Crosby. The Raiders have home-field advantage in a stadium they have not opened a regular season in since 2021. They enter as modest favorites in a game with a total in the low 40s.
Miami Dolphins vs. Las Vegas Raiders NFL Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Sunday, September 13, 2026, 4:25 PM ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. |
| TV Coverage: | FOX |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | +3 ( -105 ) | 39½ ( -115 ) | +138 |  |
| Las Vegas Raiders | -3 ( -115 ) | 39½ ( -111 ) | -170 | |
| ||||
The Miami Dolphins visit the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, September 13, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 4:25 p.m. Eastern Time at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Offshore Betting matchup airs nationally in the United States on FOX.
Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders Analysis
The Week 1 meeting in Las Vegas is less a clash of established identities than a first look at two staffs installing their systems against each other. Jeff Hafley’s Dolphins want to play with tempo and dual-threat pressure from Malik Willis. At the same time, they’ll use De’Von Achane as the constant threat that forces a defense to stay honest in the box and in space.
Klint Kubiak’s Raiders prefer a more structured, play-action-heavy attack that leans on Kirk Cousins’ experience. In addition to Brock Bowers’ ability to work the middle of the field, Ashton Jeanty will be key. The offensive line will try to establish a physical run game.
Those two approaches will collide most clearly on first and second down. Specifically, that is where Miami will try to get Willis on the edge. In turn, Las Vegas will try to keep him in the pocket.
SBG Free Picks
To conclude, Wise Guys believe that the NFL Betting side lean is the Raiders laying the points. They have more proven pieces on both sides of the ball. They are at home in a stadium they have not opened since 2021. Additionally, Kirk Cousins gives them a higher floor than Malik Willis does for Miami.
Finally, both offenses are still installing new systems. Both quarterbacks project for modest passing yards. Neither team has shown much explosiveness in the preseason.
SBG Best Bet: Las Vegas Raiders and Under the Total.