The Raiders face a daunting task in London Sunday against former teammate Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears’ suffocating defense.
Football
A potential site for a College Football Playoff championship game will soon host the NFL and UNLV football, along with a new-and-much-improved Las Vegas Bowl.
Steve Makinen, editor of VSiN’s Point Spread Weekly, found that the outright winner has a point-spread record of 37-4-1 ATS in the past 42 wild-card playoff games.
That the NFL will get this quick a look at whether Raiders rookie Arden Key’s potential really is supported by skill is another story, a fact accelerated when star pass rusher Khalil Mack was shipped to Chicago and a rookie from LSU suddenly understood his was a much greater responsibility.
The mystery bettor — just call him Biff Tannen Jr. — who beat Las Vegas out of millions of dollars when he won all of his wagers on the World Series reportedly won more than $10 million on at least $7.4 million in money-line bets on Philadelphia, which closed at plus 170.
Nick Foles, the backup-turned-starter, threw for three scores and caught another in a thrilling 41-33 victory against the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
Handicapper Hank Goldberg’s best bet for the NFL’s Wild Card weekend is the Kansas City Chiefs, who are 8½-point favorites over the Tennessee Titans on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mojo was a popular word used by the Raiders as they prepared in Sarasota for Sunday night’s game against the Dolphins, remaining back east to perhaps discover that missing magic charm to rescue a drowning season.
How successful will a defense that didn’t worry most teams this season be against arguably the greatest quarterback in history, playing in his seventh Super Bowl and going for his fifth ring?
As much as the truth hurts — the odds of a non-Power 5 ever cracking a Final Four in football rank alongside those of Urban Meyer being satisfied with how Ohio State’s season concluded — a recent suggestion from the not-so-major conferences is ill-advised.
Unusual season in college football has Las Vegas Bowl director John Saccenti crossing state lines in snowy weather to nail down opponents.
Oakland coach Jack Del Rio is 5-0 on the road this season, but 2-9 ATS at home in his two seasons. The Raiders’ home-road dichotomy is a reason to back the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
In a duel that could determine LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron’s future and throw the College Football Playoff picture into chaos, the Tigers are 7½-point underdogs to top-ranked Alabama.
Texas rallied to knock off Notre Dame 50-47 in a two-overtime thriller a day after LSU and Oklahoma also fell as popular betting favorites.
About a month ago, Valley High School football coach George Baker set up an account on GoFundMe to raise money for a new blocking sled and other equipment. He has raised $5,100 and will order the blocking sled soon.
