Oakland Raiders (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS) vs. Washington Redskins (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS)
NFL Week 3
Date/Time:Sunday, September 24, 2017 at 8:30 P.M. EST
Where: FedEx Field
TV: NBC
by Jerbeek, Expert Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread:Oak -3/Was +3
Over/Under Total:53.5
The Oakland Raiders are off to an impressive start averaging 35.5 points per game. The Raiders have won their first 2 games by double digits; however, the competition thus far as been below average as the wins came against the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans. The Raiders are led by Derek Carr who is coming off a season ending leg injury last year the cut the Raiders short in the playoffs. Carr has great receiving weapons led by Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. Cooper has 95 yards and 1 touchdown, Crabtree has actually been the leading receiver with 163 yards and 3 touchdowns. The running game has been led by Marshawn Lynch who was signed in the offseason after sitting out the previous 2 seasons. Lynch has rushed for 121 yards in the first 2 games. The Raiders use Jalen Richard and Cordarelle Patterson for change of pace backs and they have contributed 80 and 62 yards respectively and have each found the end zone once after 2 games.
The Washington Redskins bounced back in week 2 beating the Los Angeles Rams 27-20 after losing to the division rival Eagles in week 1. The Redskins are led by QB Kirk Cousins who has thrown for 441 in the first 2 games. There are some injury concerns for the Redskins as starting RB Robert Kelley is listed as day to day with a rib cartilage injury and Jordan Reed is questionable with a Sternum injury. If Kelley cant play, the running duties will go to rookie Samaje Perine. The receiving crew is led by Terrelle Pryor, Sr, who has 97 yards but has not yet scored a touchdown in 2017.
Oakland was 12-4 last year but struggled in a playoff loss to Houston without Carr. It was the first time the Raiders finished with a winning record in the past 10 years. The Raiders Head Coach Jack Del Rio is in his 3rd year coaching the Raiders with a record of 19-14.
Washington Head Coach Jay Gruden is in his 4th year with the Redskins. He is 21-27-1 in his tenure with the Redskins. Last season the Redskins finished 8-7-1 but missed out on the playoffs after losing 4 of their last 6 games.
The Raider defense has been an average unit so far in 2017 giving up 18 points per game with 4.8 yards per rush and 6.1 yards per pass attempt. They have allowed 5.5 yards per play.
The Redskin defense has struggled so far giving up an average of 25 points. The run defense has been good at 3.3 yards per rush but they have given up 8.3 yards per pass attempt and 6.3 yards per play.
The Raiders were road favorites 3 times in 2016 and won and covered in all 3 of those games. Overall the Raiders are 13-5 ATS on the road the past 2 years.
The Redskins are 9-8 SU the past 2 years at home so they do not do a great job of protecting their home turf. They have been a good underdog under coach Gruden though as they have a 15-8 record ATS as an underdog the past 3 years.Bears were a very good team at home in 2016 as they were 5-1 ATS as a home team underdog.
Jerbeeks Pick to Cover the Point Spread: The Redskins have struggled stopping the passing game which is a bad sign with the Raiders coming to town. I see Derek Carr having a field day with the Redskin secondary and look for Cooper and Crabtree to have big games. My pick is to take the Raiders minus the 3 points. Bet your pick for this game using your credit card at an online bookie where it WILL work for deposits and where you’ll receive a generous 100% signup bonus on your first deposit of $100 to $250! (Example: Deposit $250 and they’ll give you an extra $250 FREE!) Find this great offer at Bovada Sportsbook.