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Carrie Stroup here with your all important Patriots-Raiders betting preview for Week 4 of the 2011 regular NFL season.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: New England -4 & 55
Opening Line & Total: NE -4.5 & 53
The NFL’s best passing team (New England) will face the league’s top running team (Oakland) on Sunday afternoon when the 2-1 Raiders host the 2-1 Patriots.
Oakland has proven to be one of the most creative offenses in the NFL, and that’s bad news for a Patriots defense that simply hasn’t been good. New England has allowed a league-worst 469 total yards per game, and surrendered 24 second-half points in the loss in Buffalo last week. Oakland has scored 69 points the past two weeks and steamrolled the Jets for 234 rushing yards a week ago. However, it was New England rushing for 277 yards the last time these teams met (2008 in Oakland), and despite the gaudy passing numbers, still have 103 rushing YPG this year. The Patriots are 30-15 ATS on the road since 2006 and are 17-3 ATS in October games over the past five seasons.
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Tom Brady was intercepted four times in last week’s loss, but one was deflected by his receiver, another deflected by a defensive lineman, and a third was Chad Ochocinco’s fault for running an awful route. Brady still threw for 387 yards and four TD, giving him 1,327 passing yards (442 YPG) and 11 TD in three games. WR Wes Welker gained 153 yards through the air in the loss to Buffalo, and his 458 receiving yards are 81 more than anybody else in the NFL. The offense is relatively healthy, but the defense was missing two key players last week in S Patrick Chung (thumb) and DT Albert Haynesworth (back). Both are questionable to play in Oakland.
For the Raiders to win this matchup, Darren McFadden will need another monster performance. He leads the NFL with 393 rushing yards, and his 6.4 YPC average is quite impressive. QB Jason Campbell hasn’t thrown for a lot of yards (195 per game), but he has completed 66% of his passes and only tossed one interception this year. He could also have another weapon, as WR Jacoby Ford (hamstring) is expected to return to the field after missing the past two weeks. Oakland’s defense has allowed the fifth-most yards in the NFL (410 total YPG), and the team could be without S Michael Huff, who suffered a concussion in last week’s victory.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
