By Greg Dempson
Pinnacle Odds: Oakland Raiders +3.5 at Houston Texans -3.5 Total 37
Personally I am a fan of the team that I’m backing on that particular day… but I do feel apathy for Raiders fans as they are down their starting quarterback when Derek Carr broke his right fibula on a sack by Colts linebacker Trent Cole with 10:55 remaining in the fourth quarter in week 16.
Their quarterback rotation problems were compounded last week when back-up quarterback Matt McGloin had to leave the game in the second quarter after injuring his left shoulder. He apparently was hurt when defensive end Jared Crick hit him as he released a pass. Enter third-stringer Connor Cook who tossed an interception and lost one of the two fumbles that Oakland committed but, Cook did connect on a 32 yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper late in the third quarter.
The quarterback woes of Houston are also worth mentioning, high priced Brock Osweiler was benched in their home game vs. Jacksonville and replaced by Tom Savage. This past weekend Savage took a hit to the head and had to leave the game due to concussion protocol at Indianapolis. Enter Osweiler who played all but one snap of the final three quarters. He completed 21 of 40 passes for 253 yards and a 4 yard touchdown pass to C.J. Federowicz. Osweiler also ran for a 1-yard score that pulled Houston within 7 points. For the season, Osweiler has more interceptions than touchdown passes. I feel Savage is the better fit rather than Osweiler. (Time will tell as to who the starter will be.)
Week 17 in Review
- I lost my under selection on the Seattle/San Francisco game in the final weekend of play. My Every Edge NFL record stands at 3–0 in the preseason as well as 9–7–1 ATS in the regular season.
A Raiders/Texans First Half System
- Play against teams winning between 60% to 75% of their games that have won six or seven of their last eight contests and are now underdogs in the first half whenplaying a team winning between 51% to 60% of their games. This system is 43–16 = 73% ATS since 1983. The line on the full game favors Houston by –2.5 points and the first half line should fall in the range of the above system.
NFL Wild Card Pick
Oakland has a tendency to commit more penalties than their opponents, a definite edge to the Texans. Houston also possesses a better all around defense and that juggernaut offense that Oakland possess has been neutralized with the loss of Derek Carr. I have a top opinion on the Houston Texans at – 2.5 or less in the first half of this game.