The Denver Broncos beat the Raiders as many times last season against the point spread as they had in the prior seven years, twice. The Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders had beaten the Broncos in 11 of 14 games between 2017 and 2023 with Denver on the losing side of a 2 and 12 point spread record. Then, in 2024, with Bo Nix running the Broncos offense, the Broncos nailed the Raiders twice, 34-18 and 29-19, covering the point spread both times.
Tonight, these two longtime rivals square off in the Mile High City to open Week 10 of the 2025 National Football League season. Odds makers and bettors think the Broncos success last year is likely to continue this season. Denver is currently a nine-point favorite and two-thirds of the wagers on this game are taking the home team and laying the number.
Seems easy. Right?
Denver is currently atop the AFC West Division a full game over the Los Angeles Chargers and two games up on the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders, who somehow beat the New England Patriots on the road to open their 2025 campaign, have won only one game since. That win was against the near free spot on any teams’ schedule this season, downing the Tennessee Titans three weeks ago in Sin City.
So, what we have here is a Broncos team with a record as good as any team in football, 7-2, against a Raiders squad with wins only amounting to more than the number won by the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and the aforementioned Titans.
Seems easy. Right?
Before you stop reading this column to run off and lay the big number with the Broncos, know this, Denver’s seven wins this year only twice would have cleared this many points on the spread. They beat the Cincinnati Bengals in fourth week action to avenge both their losses the prior two weeks, 28-3, and dominated the defenseless Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago, 44-24.
Their other five wins have been tantalizingly close. They didn’t cover a nine-point spread on opening day at home against the pitiful Titans and needed a dramatic comeback to edge the Philadelphia Eagles by four points on October 5. In London, they beat the highly suspect New York Jets by two and scored 33 fourth quarter points the following Sunday at home to edge the other New York team, the Giants, by one point. Last week, in Houston, the Broncos had to score 11 fourth quarter points to edge the Houston Texans by a field goal after the home team had lost their starting quarterback in the first quarter.
In other words, the Broncos sterling won/loss record hasn’t produced a profitable season for their backers. Against the point spread, the Broncos are four wins and five losses.
Still seem easy?
Lay nine and laugh all the way to the bank?
I don’t think so.
What team shows up at the Mile High Stadium tonight with the fear of having to play better to survive, and what team thinks their two wins last season are just an opening act for ongoing domination over the Pete Carroll coached Raiders?
It’s a night game, and it belongs to the Silver and Black.
Qoxhi Picks: Las Vegas Raiders (+9) over Denver Broncos