Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders: betting odds, preview, pick

Denver has won 8 in a row SU as a favorite, but as a big favorite, they are a nightmarish 0-11 ATS! The computer picks them to easily win in Denver as 11-point favorites, but some trends point to the Raiders.The Denver Broncos have won seven in a row but they face the Oakland Raiders Thursday night in a wagerign situation where they have lost 11 in a row.

Denver was a 10.5-point road favorite at most sportsbooks tracked by OddsShark.com and that put them in a dangerous range. In their past 11 games as a favorite of 8 or more points, they have failed to cover the spread even once - that's 0-11 ATS for all of you counting at home.

With last Sunday's 31-23 win and cover over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Denver Broncos picked up their seventh straight win and improved to 5-2 ATS over that stretch, clinching the AFC West in the process. The Broncos have been a model of consistency on both sides of the ball over their winning streak, averaging 30.6 points per game and allowing 18.6 PPG.

Even with the AFC West locked up, the Broncos still have plenty to play for as they try to earn a valuable first round bye. They have won seven of nine trips to Oakland, a team that has struggled to a 1-6 ATS mark in seven recent home games, according to the Week 14 NFL trends report.

While the Denver Broncos are soaring, the Oakland Raiders are nose-diving. Last Sunday the Raiders fell 20-17 at home to the Cleveland Browns, a team that hadn't won on the road in its previous 12 attempts. The loss was Oakland's fifth straight both SU and ATS as the Raiders have allowed 36.75 points per game while scoring just 16 PPG over their last four games.

The total has gone OVER in four of Denver's last five road games and in seven of Oakland's last 10 home games. The total has also gone OVER in five of the last six games between these two division rivals.

Denver has won each of its last two games against Oakland by at least 14 points, winning its first matchup against the Raiders this season in Denver by a score of 37-6. Making matters worse for Oakland, the Raiders are 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS in their last nine home games against the Broncos.

It's hard to stomach taking a double-digit road favorite in a division rivalry game in December, but the Raiders aren't even putting up a fight this season. Denver, meanwhile, has been rolling right along for nearly two months now.

The NFL picks computer predicts a 34-13 final for Denver. The Raiders, despite their problems, are 8-2 ATS as a big underdog (of 8 or more points).

This looks like a pretty clear Broncos blowout, but some handicappers are worried that its a) a letdown spot after clinching the division, b) a short week with a geezer QB and c) a divisional rivalry game on the road. Still....

PICK: Denver -10.5 (courtesy of PickShark.com)