NFL Betting – Cable Has Raiders Talking Playoffs

Oakland Raiders’ head coach Tom Cable has his team talking about contending for the playoffs this preseason, with Cable himself even preaching about the potential to unseat the San Diego Chargers for the AFC West division title.

The burly, tough-talking general is known for having an edge to him, but now it’s time for his Raiders to prove that they can walk the walk in the NFL Football betting lines.

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Seattle Seahawks @ Oakland Raiders

Thursday September 2, 2010 – 8:00 PM ET

Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

Broadcast: KING 5, KICU

NFL Betting Odds: Seahawks +3.5, Raiders -3.5

Total: 37.5

It’s a new era in Seattle, where the Seahawks are led by a players’ head coach in Pete Carroll, the former USC man who returns to the NFL hoping to achieve the success he aspired for the first time that he coached in this league.

After consecutive division titles in 2007 and 2008, the Seahawks took a back seat to the Arizona Cardinals the past couple of seasons, the spot they are aiming to take back this year.

The Raiders on the other hand haven’t had success over a much longer time period, but still feel that they are just as close to the Chargers as the Seahawks are to replacing the Cardinals this season.

NFL Betting: What The Seahawks Will Have To Do To Win

After opening the preseason with a close 20-18 win over the Titans in Tennessee, the Seahawks have dropped consecutive contests to NFC North division contenders, the Green Bay and Minnesota Vikings. Charlie Whitehurst has impressed, but not enough to unseat incumbent Matt Hasselbeck for the starting role.

That said, many of the positions have already been determined, making this another run through that should not have much effect on the team, with the exception of perhaps wanting to finish the preseason at .500. But with a huge opening game against the San Francisco 49ers the following week it would not be unreasonable for Seattle to be caught looking ahead.

NFL Betting: What The Raiders Will Have To Do To Win

The Raiders want to be meaner, tougher, and stronger on both sides of the ball this season, and they showed that in beating two quality opponents in the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers to open the regular season.

A loss to the San Francisco 49ers didn’t shake Cable’s confidence, and you can expect that he will have his Raiders doing what it takes to get back in to the win column this week before traveling to Tennessee for their regular season opener.

NFL Betting: Outlook & Pick

The Seahawks look like a much better team than they were the previous year, but that doesn’t mean that they will be at their best in an otherwise meaningless game against the Raiders. Oakland has won on the road, but will likely sought after a home victory to show their fans that they mean business heading in to this season.

NFL Betting Pick: Raiders