Oakland Raiders fans who bet on NFL hope they won’t have to ask themselves, when their team visits the Miami Dolphins, where the Derek Carr from last year is. The starting QB, who has a 51.6 passer rating on throws of 21-plus air yards, which ranks 28th in the league, compared to a 117.8 passer rating on such passes last season, has flickered on and off like a Christmas light, but to be fair, it’s definitely not just him and not just the offense either.
- Date: Sunday, 5th November
- Time: 8:35 PM
- Venue: Hard Rock Stadium
- Online sportsbook NFL odds:
Raiders -3 (-119) 44 (-105) -169
Dolphins +3 (-101) 44 (-115) +147
Raiders of the lost Carr
The Raiders have dropped from a top 10 offense in points, yards, and rushing yards in 2016 to a bottom-half ranking team in those selfsame categories this season. Oakland is, furthermore, scoring 4.9 fewer points and gaining 55.5 fewer yards per game than last year. Of the defense, suffice it to say that it “continues to be a sieve on the back end.” “You pretty much have to get 10 wins to get into the playoffs.” Amari Cooper said. “So, where we’re sitting at now, we can only possibly get 11, so of course we’re going to have to stack up these wins.”
"Honestly, it's crunch time."
How the Raiders are bringing a sense of urgency to the second half of their schedule: https://t.co/SjKCmA6fGc pic.twitter.com/PVnCXfUhB3
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 1, 2017
However, the Dolphins’ geographical location relative to that of the Raiders makes it historically difficult. Translation: Miami has won 11 straight home games against West Coast teams, while Oakland has lost 20 of the last 24 against East Coast teams. On an unrelated note, hip hop was really cool in the 90s. The Raiders are scoring just 15 points per game on the road this season, while the Dolphin’s are allowing 19 points per game at home, rendering the under a reasonable alternative for people who like to bet on NFL.
Ajayi?
Current Eagles running back Jay Ajayi’s numbers weren’t on par with his 2016 output, averaging just 66.4 yards per game and 3.4 per carry, but did they warrant being traded for a fourth round pick? The question may be moot, given that trade was, according to the Sun Sentinel, “about a locker room issue.” Moreover, life goes on in Miami. “We feel good about the other guys in the running back room,” QB Jay Cutler said. “So I don’t think it’s going to change much.” Those other guys include Damien Williams and Kenyan Drake, who have combined for just 57 rushing yards this season, but then this is Jay Cutler we’re talking about – he’s probably used to settling for less, as is the rest of the offense which is averaging just 13.1 points per game. the Dolphins are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five games as home dogs but 1-5 ATS in their last six games at night, while the Raiders are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 on the road after failing to cover in their two most recent road games, but 4-8 SU and ATS in their last 12 as road faves of people who bet on NFL.