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Las Vegas Raiders betting is an up and down experience. The Raiders were 12-4 in 2016 and 6-10 in 2017, so what happens in 2018 could be anyone's guess. Further, they are in a division that is more or less up for grabs with no clear standout as to who is the best, except for maybe the Chargers, so they could finish anywhere between last and first in the AFC West. What is clear about the 2018 Raiders is that they will have a different look both on the field and the front office. The Raiders hired their former head coach Jon Gruden. Gruden had spent the last 10 seasons as an analyst for ESPN and Monday Night Football. He last coached in 2008 as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the Raiders former coach from 1998-2001. Gruden replaces Jack Del Rio, who had spent three seasons with the team. Raiders betting odds will depend on how well Gruden works back into the coaching fold. To get a better idea of how the Raiders stack up against their competition, be sure to check out our NFL Sportsbook.
New in the Raider's fold is Jordy Nelson, acquired from the Green Bay Packers, who released him after ten seasons in which he had 550 receptions for 7,848 yards. He suffered a drop in statistical output last season when Aaron Rodgers went down with a collarbone injury, and the Packers decided to release him. Tahir Whitehead was the other big name acquired in the offseason. Formerly a linebacker with the Detroit Lions, Whitehead is a 5 year NFL veteran who last year totaled 120 combined tackles, 78 solo, with an interception, a pass deflection and a sack. The Raiders also picked up Outside Tackle Kolton Miller of UCLA with the 15th pick in the 2018 draft. In college, Miller was given the all important job of protecting UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen. His efforts earned him second team All-PAC 12 honors. Gone are Michael Crabtree, TJ Carrie, Marshall Newhouse, Denico Autry, David Amerson and longtime placekicker Sebasitan Janikowski as well as punter Marquette King. The biggest loss here is Crabtree, but with the addition of Jordy Nelson and Pittsburg WR Martavis Bryant they should be able to make up for the loss.
Barring any kind of major disaster, Derek Carr will start at quarterback for the Raiders in 2018. It will be his fifth season as the starting quarterback. While he may not put up astounding numbers, he is none the less steady as they come, having consistently made over 320 completions in each of his five seasons in the NFL for a total of 14,690 yards in that time. The Raiders have an interesting competition shaping up for Carr's backup spot though; Veteran EJ Manuel, who was the backup last season and saw action for one game when Carr was out, will be competing for the spot with Connor Cook, who was a former Rose Bowl MVP in 2014 out of Michigan State. While Manuel has the experience and steady hand, Cook, who was drafted in 2016 as the rare distinction of being the first quarterback of the Super Bowl era to have his first start come in the playoffs, when he started the 2016 AFC wildcard game. Both have been taking plenty of reps in training camp, so only time will tell who gets the nod.