AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders Pick

Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders
NFL Football Week 2
Date/Time: Sunday – September 15th – 4:05pm EST
Where:RingCentral Coliseum – Oakland, CA
TV: CBS

Point Spread: KC -8/OAK +8
Over/Under Total: 52

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AND OAKLAND RAIDERS MATCH-UP:

One of the more intriguing games this coming Sunday is this AFC West battle between the 1-0 Kansas City Chiefs and the 1-0 Oakland Raiders. Both teams feel they have a legitimate shot of winning this division, especially Kansas City who was just a play or two away from winning the AFC and making their first Super Bowl appearance in something like 40 years.

Being that these teams are both in the AFC West, they are extremely familiar with each other having played twice a year every year. In recent history, the Kansas City Chiefs have absolutely OWNED the Raiders. Having won eight of the last ten meetings, the Chiefs have also covered the Vegas spread in six of those including the last time they played in 2018 and Kansas City dominated the Raiders 35-3 in Arrowhead Stadium. This is a new season though, and the Oakland Raiders so far have looked more like a team that is coached by Jon Gruden. The Chiefs, although they are traveling into Oakland, are heavy favorites this Sunday. Kansas City opens as an eight-point favorite over the Raiders while the total points are set at 52 combined. This game should be very interesting, and the winner will have the early nod and momentum in the AFC’s West Division race.

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HOW THE PUBLIC IS BETTING KANSAS CITY AND OAKLAND…AND HOW I AM BETTING THEM:

Like I mentioned above, the Chiefs enter this game as eight-point road favorites over the Raiders while the total is 52 points in the contest. As of late Tuesday evening, the public was not deterred at all by the large spread. Kansas City is their pick with 59% of the public action on the Chiefs to cover while only 41% think the Raiders can win or at least keep it close. Both teams were able to cover the spread in week one. Kansas City defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 40-26 and on Monday Night Football’s late game, the Oakland Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos 24-16.

As you know about me, I typically fade public perception, especially when it is the favorite the public is all over. So I will say this now, Oakland will cover the spread this Sunday. There, that is MY PICK…which will be the winning pick. Oakland will not only cover, but they could potentially win the game outright Sunday evening against the Kansas City Chiefs.

WEEK ONE TAKEAWAYS FOR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AND OAKLAND RAIDERS:

Again, both of these teams looked rather impressive in week one. Kansas City’s offense clicked as usual against the Jaguars with Patrick Mahomes passing for over 375 yards and three touchdowns. Along with Mahomes leading the way passing, running back, LeSean McCoy led the way rushing with 81 yards on the ground. McCoy carried the load after an injury to Tyreke Hill after just one carry. Word out of Kansas City is that Hill will miss a few weeks with a clavicle injury but will not require surgery. With or without Tyreke Hill, the Kansas City offense will or at least SHOULD be able to keep rolling, but the question is how their defense will hold up which has been the one weakness they have had over the last couple of years. On defense against the Jaguars, the Chiefs allowed 26 points, but 13 of those were scored after the game was in hand, but that was also after Nick Foles (Jacksonville’s starting QB) went down with a broken collar bone. This Sunday against the Raiders, they will face a much more challenging four quarters against Derek Carr and the rest of the Raiders offense.

As for the Oakland Raiders, the elephant in the room all week and all weekend leading up to their Monday Night Football game was the Antonio Brown saga. Many, including myself, thought that the drama of it all and the fact that Antonio Brown was no longer a Raider, would have a large impact on the game against Denver. Well, we were wrong. Derek Carr looked great. The Raiders looked strong. And the Raiders took down Denver by a 24-16. It was almost as if the team rallied around the so-called “adversity” and used it to fuel them on Monday night. In the win over the Broncos, Carr went 22 of 26 passing with 259 yards and a touchdown with no picks. Carr was very effective against the Denver defense as was the running game. Rookie, Josh Jacobs turned heads by leading the way for Oakland and gaining 85 yards on the ground with two scores. His numbers don’t jump out at you, but he proved to be a very competent back to compliment the play of Derek Carr. Do I see the Oakland Raiders as an AFC Title contender just yet? No. But I do see this team as one that is moving forward in the right direction, and that goes for the entire team offensively and defensively.

HOW THE GAME WILL PLAY OUT ON SUNDAY:

This Sunday I see a very entertaining game between the Chiefs and Raiders. I do think when it is all said and done that the Chiefs will win the game straight up, but I do like the Raiders to keep it respectable. Oakland will try to milk the clock and control the ball in order to keep Patrick Mahomes and the high scoring Chiefs offense off the field. I do see Oakland having some success on both sides of the ball. The absence of Tyreke Hill will help defensive matchups for Oakland and should help prevent the big-play ability of the Chiefs offense. Again, I do like Kansas City to win the game, but I see this game coming down to the final minutes and the Chiefs squeaking out a 28-24 win over the Raiders.

Bob’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Take the Oakland Raiders plus the eight points against the Kansas City Chiefs