Free Betting Tips – Raiders Attempt To Stay In AFC West Race

Those looking for free NFL betting tips should note that the Oakland Raiders aren’t where they want to be, but they’re much better than they used to be. Al Davis’ team tries to stay alive in the AFC West race against the Denver Broncos.

Free Betting Tips: Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders

Sunday, December 19th – 4:05 PM ET

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Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland

Broadcast: CBS

NFL Betting Odds:

Broncos +6.5

Raiders -6.5

Total: 43

Seasons don’t get much worse than the one the Denver Broncos are suffering through. Just two years after letting Mike Shanahan walk, longtime owner Pat Bowlen had to pull the trigger once again and fire coach Josh McDaniels.

The 34-year-old McDaniels lost control of his team in 2010, but he also got caught filming a San Francisco 49er practice before a game in London, England, earlier this season.

On and off the field, McDaniels steered Denver in a wayward direction; Bowlen, who has been a fixture in the Mile High City, had to acknowledge that he entrusted way too much power and responsibility to a very unproven individual.

Now the Broncos are in a shambles as an organization, and the players on their roster know as much. Just how bad has the off-field drama in Denver affected the on-field product?

The Broncos lost 43-13 to the Arizona Cardinals this past Sunday; the Cardinals owned just three wins coming into that contest, but what’s more is that Arizona went to battle with John Skelton, a 22-year-old third-string quarterback from Fordham University.

That the Broncos could get thumped by a bad team with abelow-average quarterback is simply breathtaking. A few years ago, the Oakland Raiders were by far the most dysfunctional team in the AFC West, but now Denver has clearly taken over that role.

Free Betting Tips: What The Broncos Have To Do To Win

The Broncos need to block out the distractions around them and show some guts. Oakland rolled up 59 points the last time these teams met in Denver, so the Broncos need totreat this game as their Super Bowl.

The Broncos need to act as thoughevery member of their roster is in jeopardy of getting cut. Perhaps the lame-duck Bronco coaches won’t bein a position to hold very muchauthority, butyou can bet that Bowlen willlook at this game and see which players reallycare about beating a hated archrival. Passion and purpose must define this game; without those qualities, the Broncos haveno shot in Oakland.

Free Betting Tips: What The Raiders Have To Do To Win

Oakland running back Darren McFadden tore off multiplelong runs last weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and against a Denver team he overwhelmed a few months ago, McFadden needs to touch the ball a lot more.

Oaklandcoach Tom Cable needs to pound the running game at a frail and feeble Denver defense. Oaklandcan mix in vertical passes when the Broncos stuff the tackle box, but the first priority for the Raiders is to cram the ball between the tackles. A strong, blue-collar approach with no turnovers involved is the easy recipe for aworkmanlike Raider victory this weekend.

Free Betting Tips: Outlook & Pick

Oakland might not score59 points, butthe Raiders should certainly score at least 34 points against the Broncos, who are rapidly losing interest in their season. It would take a minor miracle for Denver to score anything more than 24 points in this game. Take Oakland without any hesitation.

Free Betting Tips: Raiders -6.5