NFL Sports Betting Picks – Raiders vs Cardinals

It’s been a while since I’ve been enticed to make a Sports Betting play on the Oakland Raiders, but after watching how poor the Cardinals played last week in Atlanta, I may just take the silver and black this week. And just to slap the Arizona Cardinals in the face a little more, even with their backup, Bruce Gradkowski playing, I still like their chances to cover.

Oakland Raiders vs. Arizona Cardinals (University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, AZ)

Sunday September 26 th at 4:15 PM ET

TV: CBS

The Jason Campbell experiment didn’t make it past game two, but kudos to Tom Cable for making the switch as Gradkowski stepped in and just found a way to make some plays, leading his team to a Sports Betting victory over the St. Louis Rams. The Cardinals starter, Derek Anderson, may just be the next experiment that finds its way back to the drawing board as he hasn’t done a hell of a lot in his short stint at QB. This game may be the make or break it for him, and I have my money on break.

NFL Spread:

Oakland – PS +4 (-110) ML +180

Arizona – PS -4 (-110) ML -220

Total – 39 ½

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A big reason I like the Raiders chances despite going with their second string QB is the play of running back Darren McFadden. The former 4 th overall pick was nearing bust status but has had a breakout start to the season, racking up 240-rushing yards which is good for second in the NFL. Oakland, as a team, ranks third in the league with 154.5 yards per game and they may even get better as returning on Sunday will be their other back, Michael Bush.

That’s not good news for Arizona as they are allowing the second most rushing yards in the NFL through two games, and when you add Bush to the mix after missing the first two games of the season with a hand injury, and the Raiders are looking more and more like a Sports Betting lock.

Arizona may be getting a RB boost themselves as Beanie Wells is expected to return, but it’s unknown how much he’ll play. Tim Hightower has been carrying the load quite admirably, in Week 1 at least, but Oakland’s defence looked strong against the run last week against a very good Steven Jackson. The Raiders had even bottled up Chris Johnson in Week 1 before the reigning MVP broke loose for a big one.

Wells and Hightower are going to need to be the catalyst if this offence wants to get moving on Sunday as Derek Anderson hasn’t impressed anyone thus far. He was just 17-of-31 for 161 yards including two picks in the ugly loss to the Falcons. He didn’t look all that special in Week 1 either, and that was against the Rams. With Oakland’s defence somewhere in between those two, I foresee an Oakland ictory.

Sports Betting Prediction : Oakland (+4)