Sport: NFLPick Selection: Oakland Raiders +3.5 -110
Chicago Bears at Oakland Raiders 4:15 PM ET
Oakland Raiders +3.5 -110
What business do the Bears have in laying points on the road? They are the reigning Super Bowl participants from the NFC but they certainly are not playing like it now and are most likely going to be sitting home during the playoffs unless something miraculous happens. After an ugly 16-7 home loss to the Lions, the Bears are a distant four games back of Green Bay heading into play Sunday. Both the offense and defense have been inconsistent with no signs of progression on the horizon.
The Raiders enter play on Sunday a navigable two games back in the downright stinky AFC West so they are far from out of anything. After a 2-2 start, Oakland has lost four straight games but it is playing with a lot of guts as the last three losses have been by a touchdown or less and the defeat to San Diego was well within their grasp before a costly turnover. The last three games the Raiders have been outgained by an average of only 18 ypg so they are right there and they get over that hump Sunday.
Justin Fargas has always been an explosive runner, but injuries have prevented him from ever getting close to 1,000 yards for Oakland. He's having his best year, averaging 5.4 ypc while LaMont Jordan is averaging 4.0 ypc. Only four defenses have given up more than the eight runs of 20 yards or more the Bears have allowed which is a good sign for the Raiders. Adrian Peterson has a 224-yard game against the Bears and is certainly one the Raiders will look at.
The Bears cannot run the ball at all as they are averaging just 78.9 ypg on 3.2 ypc which are both 31st in the NFL. Adding insult to injury, literally, All-Pro left guard Ruben Brown was lost for the season so the running game will have even more of a problem. The only good news is that the Raiders run defense has been horrendous, allowing 152.5 ypg on the season. It drops to a solid 125 ypg allowed at home and with the Raiders having edges in three of the four rushing categories, it will pay off in the end on Sunday.
The whole rushing game numbers favor the Raiders and it also sets them up in a great situation. Play on underdogs or pick after allowing 175 or more rushing yards last game going up against an opponent that gained 99 or less rushing yards in three straight games. This situation is 37-13 ATS (74 percent) since 1983. The Raiders have covered five of their last seven games as an underdog in this price range while Chicago is 0-5 ATS in its last five games in this range as well. Play Oakland Raiders 1 Unit
Matt Fargo continues to punish the NFL as he has won $9,450 for his dime players this season! Seven games on Sunday falls into possible revenge spots but only one of those qualifies for the 2007 Revenge Game of the Year! This huge release is backed by a 26-6 ATS (81.2 percent) Power Situation! Do not miss it! Guaranteed!
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