Gameday is upon us once again! I, like most of us, have been counting the days down all week to this huge matchup between the Chiefs and Raiders. It's a given that every game is the "biggest" game of the season, but this one well and truly could decide how the remainder of the Chiefs season is played out.
A win today erases some of the "they only beat winless teams" talk and makes next week's Monday-nighter even more important than it already is. A loss puts the Chiefs at 2-4 and well out of the race in the AFC West. A win is a win though, whether it's against a winless team or a team with a backup QB, and the Chiefs need one today.
In the Opening Line, we looked at the early Vegas line and saw the Raiders open as 3.5 point favorites and the total was set at 42. Let's see what has changed (if anything) and let's take a final look at injuries and today's best bets!
As of 10:30 AM Arrowhead Standard Time, the most widely available line is Oakland -3.5 and the total is getting tossed back and forth anywhere from 41 to 42. One might think, "Oh, the line has stayed pretty much the same!" but you would be incorrect. This line has been bouncing around all week due to the uncertainty surrounding the Oakland QB situation. It got as high as 7 the day of the now famous Fescoe-Saunders interview, but came all the way back down thanks to Kyle Boller. The total was living at 41 for most of yesterday and today, and it looks like some last minute action on the over has been driving it up.
I don't know how anyone could forecast how this game will play out. The bottom line as a bettor is that if you think no matter who plays QB, the Raiders are just simply better; then you should definitely take the Raiders (buy the hook to -3 if possible online). If you think that the Chiefs now have the advantage at QB, WR, ST coverage, Run defense, secondary like I do then you may want to take the Chiefs. One side will be wrong obviously and the uncertainty of it is causing me to sit this one out.
Fantasy Football Updates (info courtesy of ESPN)
Ruled out before Sunday: RB Jahvid Best (concussion), QB Sam Bradford (ankle), QB Jason Campbell (collarbone), TE Chris Cooley (finger), WR Lee Evans (ankle), WR Andre Johnson (hamstring), K Sebastian Janikowski (left hamstring), RB Felix Jones (ankle), TE Zach Miller (SEA) (head)
Early games (1 p.m. ET)
RB LeGarrette Blount (knee, doubtful) likely inactive
TE Antonio Gates (foot, questionable): active
RB Peyton Hillis (hamstring, questionable) inactive
WR Julio Jones (hamstring, doubtful) inactive
Night game (8:20 p.m. ET)
RB Joseph Addai (hamstring, questionable)
Steve in RI's Week 7 Picks
Fresh off one of my worst college football days ever, I will look to save the weekend. These plays are not very "sexy" but this is what I am going with.
Tennessee -3
Miami +1 (now plus 2 places)
Seattle +3 (I know this looks really dumb. Already beat the time zone challenge against the G-Men. Whitehurst playing for his CAREER here today)
Jets +1
Atlanta +5
NYJ/SD over 43
Dallas/St. Louis over 43
Green Bay -9.5 (was actually considering the Vikes, but they lost yet anotherrrr corner yesterday)
Well folks, here we go again. I hope a win today will unite us all here in AP Nation. Kool-Aids, Realists, SFLers, all of us, whether it's ugly or whether it's beautiful, let's get crazy here. I'm ready, I know by his tweets LeRon is ready, let's do this Chiefs! Have a wonderful, safe and healthy Sunday!