All eyes will be on the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins tonight at 4:25 p.m. EST for their battle, where new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak makes his first debut leading an ambitious squad looking to prove itself as playoff-worthy.
At Caesars Sportsbook, the Raiders are moneyline favorites at -170 while Dolphins sit on +140 for their game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Raiders Bettors Show Strong Support
Joey Feazel, head of football for Caesars Sportsbook in Las Vegas, reports that the Raiders dominate offseason betting liabilities at his establishment due to their strong local support in Nevada.
“Nevada is home for us, and the Raiders represent one of our primary liabilities [with odds at +12500].” He revealed.
Last season, the Raiders posted a 3-14 record under former head coach Pete Carroll before earning the No. 1 overall draft pick and selecting Heisman Trophy-winner Fernando Mendoza with their No. 1 overall selection.
Feazel noted, “Now the Raiders have added an exciting coach who recently won the Super Bowl as offensive coordinator; these additions bode well and give fans much to look forward to in 2018.” “Now with this coach in place and many notable roster changes behind us, their future appears promising indeed!” he concluded.
Kirk Cousins Takes Starting Role
Las Vegas signed veteran Kirk Cousins after his release from Atlanta to serve as interim quarterback while Mendoza continues his development. Cousins was granted a fully guaranteed $20 million contract through 2026 and won Week 1 starting spot.
Tyler Linderbaum was one of the key free agent signings, an ex-Ravens Pro Bowl center who proved crucial in Kubiak’s system. On defense, Nakobe Dean joined Quay Walker and Kwity Paye to improve speed and versatility around Maxx Crosby as linebacker Nakobe Dean returned.
Rookie Mendoza Awaits His Opportunity
Feazel likened Mendoza’s situation with that of Jaxson Dart’s with the New York Giants; after Russell Wilson struggled, Dart took over starting duties by Week 4.
The Raiders should follow suit and begin with an experienced quarterback to ensure continued competitiveness while their rookie adjusts to their system.
Feazel noted, however, that “if Cousins is performing well then Mendoza may not see as much playing time this year,” similar to what occurred with Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s regime. “Our team is currently going through its initial rebuild phase.”
While its implementation on the field remains to be seen, fans supporting the Raiders are clearly anticipating success on and off of the field.
Other Teams Drawing Betting Attention
Caesars Sportsbook also lists the Los Angeles Rams among their highest liabilities; even after suffering an embarrassing 27-7 defeat against San Francisco 49ers in Australia during their season opener, the Rams remain Super Bowl favorites with odds of +600.
Feazel noted it’s unusual for such high betting on the reigning Super Bowl champions so early in the season, noting the impact of offseason acquisitions such as star edge rusher Myles Garrett and recently-retired defensive tackle Aaron Donald, as key factors.
Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers have also seen increased betting interest, likely driven by local fan bases. When the Broncos take on Kansas City Chiefs on opening day this season, oddsmakers favor them at -137 with +117 odds for Denver Broncos fans to make their pick.
Bettors Possibly Overestimating Caleb Williams
Feazel noted that early season excitement may have inflated expectations for Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and may lead to unreasonable expectations of success from them this season.
“Williams had some accuracy issues last season and those don’t get resolved overnight. People may recall highlights from his final Bears game which could skew perceptions,” according to him.
The 2019 NFL season has officially kicked off, sparking fresh excitement and betting activity related to teams like the Raiders as they embark on new chapters of their history.
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