Raiders vs. Broncos Odds, Prediction: Best Bets for Thursday Night Football

NFL Week 10 kicks off tonight with a Thursday Night Football matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos. The AFC West divisional showdown kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

This contest features two teams going in opposite directions. The Broncos (7-2 SU, 4-4-1 ATS) are atop the AFC West standings, with the Raiders (2-6 SU, 3-5 ATS) in the basement.

DraftKings is offering Denver as a 9.5-point home favorite with the total set at 42.5. There’s solid two-way action at DraftKings, where 51% of the betting handle is on the Broncos.

Best TNF Bet Against the Spread

Raiders +9.5 (-110)

The Raiders dropped a tough OT decision to the Jags last week, but the offense found its stride late in the game. TE Brock Bowers returned from a knee injury and blew up with three TDs and 127 receiving yards. He rewarded FFL owners with 43 fantasy points.

Bowers faces a more difficult matchup against the Broncos. Las Vegas traded top WR Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville before the trade deadline. So, Bowers and Tyler Lockett are now QB Geno Smith‘s top targets.

Denver has been one of the NFL’s surprise teams. The Broncos have overcome slow starts with fast finishes during their current six-game winning streak. Five of those wins came by one score.

Quarterback Bo Nix has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and 17 TDs. He’s been picked off six times and sacked on nine occasions. WR Courtland Sutton is one of Nix’s favorite targets. He’s got a team-high 566 receiving yards and four TDs. Troy Franklin is also a weapon in the aerial attack with a team-best 64 targets and four TD catches.

Denver’s defense is stout, too, even without top CB Patrick Surtain playing tonight’s game due to a pectoral injury. Expect Denver’s front to pressure Smith all night long. The Broncos lead the NFL with 40 sacks, and they limit opposing quarterbacks to 186.8 passing yards per game.

All that said, we like the Raiders catching nearly double digits here on the spread. Denver’s penchant for winning close games could continue, with Bowers and rookie RB Ashton Jeanty doing just enough to keep the Raiders within shouting distance.

Best Player Prop for Broncos

Courtland Sutton OVER 56.5 Receiving Yards (-112 at FanDuel)

Sutton could feast against a Las Vegas defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in allowing 165.1 receiving yards to WRs per game.

Sutton averages 62.8 receiving yards per game, but he’s even better at home. Check out his production in four home games this season:

• 6 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD vs. Titans
• 5 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD vs. Bengals
• 6 catches, 87 yards, 0 TD vs. Giants
• 4 catches, 67 yards, 0 TD vs. Cowboys

That bumps his average up to 74 ypg at home. Sutton is coming off a down performance against Houston with just one catch for 30 yards and a TD. The Raiders should not be confused with the Texans, who have one of the league’s best defenses.

Best Player Prop for Raiders

Ashton Jeanty OVER 2.5 Receptions (-125 at FanDuel)

This is all about the expected game flow and Denver applying consistent pressure on the QB. Smith can utilize Jeanty as a safety valve with short dump passes when he’s pressured.

Jeanty has been consistent as a pass catcher during his rookie season. He’s had at least one catch in seven of eight games with a total of 20.

Jeanty’s also coming off his most productive game as a receiver with five catches for 47 yards and a TD against Jacksonville.