The Oakland Raiders have a new quarterback in Jason Campbell and lower NFL preseason betting odds for 2010. The Raiders are still long Shots at 82-1 to win the Super Bowl but they are just 8-1 in NFL preseason odds to win the AFC West in 2010.
NFL preseason betting for the Raiders opens up at Dallas on August 12th when they will be solid underdogs. The Raiders continue on the road in Week 2 at Chicago before their final two preseason games at home against Chicago and Seattle.
The Raiders have been one of the worst teams in the NFL over the past decade and as long as the Oakland Raiders are owned by Al Davis their lack of success will probably continue. There is a little bit of hope this season though as the Raiders finally got rid of Davis’ favorite quarterback, JaMarcus Russell. A player off the street would have been a better NFL quarterback than Russell so the Raiders should be improved although Campbell is not a great quarterback.
The Oakland offense is full of players who have not played up to their potential. Running back Darren McFadden has been a major bust and wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey was a terrible draft selection a year ago. The running game is led by Michael Bush who is a capable runner but for the Raiders to win consistently they need McFadden to do something. The receiving corps is led by Louis Murphy and Chaz Schilens.
The Raiders have one of the best cornerbacks in the game in Nnamdi Asomugha but not much else on defense. Richard Seymour is a big name defensive end who gets a lot of money and makes a few players but he is not great. After Asomugha and Seymour there isn’t much for Oakland on defense. Opposing teams ran all over the Raiders last year as the Raiders were 29th in the NFL against the run. It may not be any better in 2010. The team did draft Rolando McClain out of Alabama and perhaps he can help a little bit.
The Raiders are a team picked by many to be much improved in NFL preseason odds. Oakland still has a lot of holes though and they actually may be overvalued to start the season.