NFL Week 17 Oakland at Denver Game Odds

The Greatness was flying high, and the pirate flags were proudly unfurled all over the Bay Area, as all thought the Oakland Raiders (12-3) would finally break the hold that Denver has had on the AFC West and that New England has had on the AFC. Then, it just took one broken fibula to send all of those title dreams into a nearby dumpster, as Raiders quarterback Derek Carr went down last week to injury, done for Week 17 and the postseason. The Denver Broncos (8-7) enter the game on a three-game losing streak thanks to a 33-10 shellacking by Kansas City last Sunday, and they look to end their season on a high note by turning Oakland backup quarterback Matt McGloin into a punching bag. So let’s take a look at our NFL odds for this game.

NFL Week 17 Oakland at Denver Game Info

When: Sunday, January 1, 2017, 4:25pm ET Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver TV: CBS Radio: Oakland Raiders Radio Network / Denver Broncos Radio Network Live Stream: NFL Live NFL Odds: Denver (-2.5), O/U 40.5

“The Raiders have playmakers all around Matt McGloin.”

– @wyche89 Watch: https://t.co/KKo05WiEFIpic.twitter.com/nCm8iSLkYu — OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) December 30, 2016

Why should you bet on the Raiders?

It is true that the Raiders can clinch the AFC West with a win, so there is plenty of motivation. If they win and the Miami Dolphins can knock off New England in Week 17 for the second year in a row, then Oakland gets home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. No matter what happens on Sunday, this is a terrific year for a team that has not been to the playoffs in 14 years.  But can Matt McGloin do this? He does have tailback Latavius Murray, buttressed by Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington. Talented wideouts Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree will still be running down the field. The pressure is on McGloin to avoid that stiff Denver pass rush and find openings in a secondary that has been more generous to the opposition than it was last season, when the defense drove the Broncos to a Super Bowl title.  

Why should you put your money on the Broncos?

Denver may be 8-7 now, but they were 7-3 after ten games until they fell off the table. Their loss to Kansas City eliminated them from the postseason, and their offense — never a mighty unit — has only posted 23 points in those three straight losses. The loss of C.J. Anderson and the failure of Trevor Siemian to establish himself as a legitimate starting quarterback have doomed the offense this year. However, the strength of this team remains the defense, and I have strong doubts that McGloin will be able to move the ball much at all against a Denver defense that will be looking to finish the season on a proud note. Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction I love what Oakland has accomplished this season, and it is the worst luck that their talented quarterback has gone down just as the team was poised to push deep into the postseason. I’m sure that Oakland will give maximum effort this week, but I’m not sure that McGloin has what it takes to beat Denver on the road. I predict a final score of Denver 20, Oakland 16