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The Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) and New Orleans Saints (1-1) will clash in Week 3 of the NFL season this afternoon. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET from Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La. The game will broadcast live on CBS.
The Saints are 3-point favorites over the Raiders on the spread, with the over/under set at 43.5 total points. New Orleans is a -172 moneyline favorite to win outright, while Las Vegas is a +144 underdog to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Raiders vs Saints predictions for Sunday's Week 3 contest.
Raiders vs Saints Prediction
- Raiders vs Saints pick: Over 43.5 (-115)
My Raiders vs. Saints best bet is the total to go Over 43.5 points, with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
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Raiders vs Saints Odds
| Raiders Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -108 | 43.5 -115o / -105u | +144 |
| Saints Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -112 | 43.5 -115o / -105u | -172 |
Raiders vs Saints NFL Week 3 Preview
Las Vegas Raiders Betting Preview: Kubiak Leads Improved Bunch
The Raiders have a vastly improved offense under head coach Klint Kubiak and offensive line coach Rick Dennison. The difference between this staff and last year's regime is astronomical.
Las Vegas boasts the most improved offensive line in the league, sitting at No. 1 in pass block win rate thanks to a healthy Colton Miller and the addition of Tyler Linderbaum.
Veteran QB Kirk Cousins looks comfortable operating within clean pockets, and the offense is expecting to get its best weapon, Brock Bowers, back for today's game.
However, I don't think the Raiders defense is actually very good — they look competent strictly because they played the two most dysfunctional offenses in the league (Dolphins and Chargers ) — but the offense is for real with weapons all around the field.
New Orleans Saints Betting Preview: Tyler Shough Settling into a Rhythm
The Saints play fast and rely heavily on pace to wear out opposing defenses.
Offensively, Tyler Shough really found his rhythm in the second half last week, ultimately completing 27-of-34 pass attempts for 252 yards and a touchdown in an upset win over the Ravens in Baltimore.
While the Saints have been dreadful in the first quarter (2-16 first-quarter ATS since the start of last year), they eventually find ways to push the ball downfield and generate points against mediocre defenses.
Klint Kubiak is very familiar with the personnel on this Saints defense, having coached many of these veteran front-seven players a couple of years ago. He will almost certainly have schematic beaters dialed up for this specific matchup.
Raiders vs Saints Prediction, Betting Analysis
The total opened at 40 and has almost been bet all the way up to the key number of 44 for a reason.
Since 2013, we have only seen two games close under 44 in Week 3 where both teams are averaging at least 25 points per game. More importantly, none of those historical games were played indoors.
We have two dome teams playing on a fast track, both fielding offenses that look very sharp right now. Between the Saints' blistering pace and the Raiders' elite pass protection, I think we'll see this game sail Over the total.
Pick: Over 43.5 (-115)
