NFL Football Odds – Chris Johnson’s Quest For 2,500 Begins With Oakland

If Chris Johnson has any hopes of overcoming the massive football odds against him accomplishing 2,500 rushing yards then he’ll have to get off to a great start when the Tennessee Titans clash with the Oakland Raiders as -6.0 favorites.

And what an odd number for the lines makers to pull out. This time last year, the Titans were one of the top-5 contenders for the Super Bowl before losing their opening game to the Steelers and falling to a deathly 0-6 SU start. Tennessee righted the ship by finishing the season with an even 8-8 SU, but couldn’t save the sinking vessel full of their betting detractors as they ended 2009 with an abysmal 6-10 ATS record.

Even still, the Titans are heading in to the 2010 NFL season with as much hope and expectation as last season, if not just a tad bit more. Unfortunately for them, the NFL odds makers aren’t giving them the same love as Tennessee stands with +1400 odds to win the AFC Championship. Those are roughly the same odds being handed to the Texans and Dolphins.

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There’s a lot to like about this offense. Vince Young will not only begin the Titans’ 2010 NFL campaign as the starter, he’s the undeniable defender of their hopes. Keeping his stats in check is a hard thing to do. He played in just ten games as a starter last season, so he averaged roughly 188 passing yards and a shade over a touchdown per game. What’s disheartening about his efforts is that he generated just as many turnovers per game on average.

Oakland Raiders (0-0) vs. Tennessee Titans (0-0)

Sunday, September 12th — LP Field — 1:00pm EST

NFL Betting Odds: Tennessee -6 (40.5)

There’s more to be worried about than the bright optimists think. There’s tons of problems on a defense that has lost Keith Bulloch, Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch to free agency over the past two seasons, and replaced them with mediocre talent. The rushing defense was good, but the passing defense allowed the second-most yards per game with 258.7 yards allowed through the air.

Which might actually be a problem this year against the Oakland Raiders, who are trying to defy their own set of NFL odds and thunder down the homestretch as an upset specialist.

Gone is JaMarcus “Purple Stank” Russell and in comes Jason Campbell as the exiled talent from the McNabb trade in Washington. Campbell’s much needed fresh start in Oakland brings the team its first true quarterback in nearly seven NFL seasons.

And while it’s easy to lump on the hate wagon against Campbell, let’s remember that his quarterbacking numbers aren’t fair. He faced a myriad of coaching issues in Washington, plus he also had a brutal offensive line. It’s not that Oakland’s is much better, but the talent certainly is.

The list of receivers that will end up thriving off of Campbell’s arrival is short, but if there’s any pass catching talent in Oakland, then it will rise to the top with Campbell slinging the ball round the field.

Darren McFadden may have the good graces of Al Davis based on his speed and strength, but the real guy I’m looking at to stun people is Michael Bush. The former Louisville standout is a 6-foot-1, 245 pound speed freak who averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season. Tom Cable knows that he has to balance the offense, and teams will at least have to respect Jason Campbell in the red zone. That opens up a lot of potential for Bush and Run-DMC to do damage.

The most glaring deficiency on the field Sunday is going to be Tennessee Titans defense. While I like this offense a ton, I think the Titans will get bowled over by McFadden and Bush throughout the game as Campbell takes time to adjust in an obnoxiously loud LP Field. The Titans are just 3-6 ATS when defending their NFL odds at home. It’s not like they have a huge home-field advantage.

As for Chris Johnson’s hopes of realizing 2,500 yards, I wish him the best. It’s a ridiculous thing to imagine anyone rushing for an average of 156.5 rushing yards per game (which is what he’d have to do) but if there’s anyone capable of doing so, it’s the multi-talented Johnson.

I’m rooting for the Titans. I really am. Vince Young is such a cathartic character, and Chris Johnson is packed to the brim with talent. The offense can do a lot, but the defense is going to be exposed by the Oakland Raiders despite the fact the NFL odds are indicating otherwise.

Don’t sleep on Oakland.

Furious NFL Betting Pick – Oakland +6.0 (OVER)

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