Sharp bettors cause line move in Raiders-Titans matchup

The Raiders were crushed by the Colts last week in their fourth consecutive loss this season and 17th in 22 games.

Despite the 40-6 defeat and fourth straight setback against the spread, the Raiders opened as 6½-point favorites over the Titans in Sunday’s matchup of 1-4 teams at Allegiant Stadium.

Sharp bettors jumped on Tennessee, which rallied for its first win of the season after an epic meltdown by the Cardinals, causing the consensus line to drop to 4½. It then dipped to 4 at multiple sportsbooks.

“The money’s all been on the Titans so far,” Boomer’s Sportsbook director of trading Nick Bogdanovich said. “It’s just hard to lay a decent amount of points with a bad team, and I guess that’s probably the angle (sharps) are looking at.

“It’s obviously two of the worst teams in the league, so something’s got to give. Hopefully, the Raiders will show up and give the locals something to cheer about.”

The game sets up a pros versus Joes matchup at STN Sports, where pro bettors are on the Titans and the betting public is on the Raiders.

“Some sharp action on the Titans plus the points,” Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said. “Ticket counts favor the Raiders at about 2-1, so about 67 percent on the Raiders. We’re clearly going to be Titans fans.”

Tennessee, which erased a 21-6 fourth-quarter deficit in Sunday’s 22-21 win at Arizona, is 2-3 ATS this season after going 2-15 ATS last season. The Titans, playing their third consecutive road game, have lost 18 of their past 22 games.

The Raiders are on a 1-5 straight-up and ATS skid at Allegiant.

The total is 41½, and 75 percent of the money at STN Sports is on the over. The Titans have gone over in three of their past four games, while the Raiders have gone over in two of their past three.

Best bet

Pro sports bettor Jeff Whitelaw bet on the Titans +6 and still recommends a play on them at +4½.

“When I bet it, I didn’t know if (Raiders tight end Brock) Bowers was going to play. I don’t think he will. And losing (left tackle Kolton) Miller, who is probably their best (offensive) lineman, really hurts them,” Whitelaw said. “I don’t think the Raiders can be favored over anybody by that amount, and I just think it will be a close game regardless.”

Props

Raiders quarterback Geno Smith has thrown an NFL-high nine interceptions. He has been picked off in four games and is a -150 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook to throw an interception against Tennessee.

Ashton Jeanty has scored a touchdown in two games. The Raiders rookie running back is -155 at Caesars to score an anytime touchdown and the +390 favorite to be the first touchdown scorer.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on X.