David Smith/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA

Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders: A AFC West matchup

The Denver Broncos are visiting the Las Vegas Raiders at Lincoln Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.

The Broncos need this one

The Denver Broncos are third in the AFC West with a 6-5 record, including 3-3 on the road. They have won 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 38-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Rookie Bo Nix set career highs by completing 85% of his passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns. Nix, who was 28 of 33, joined Hall of Famer Peyton Manning as the only rookie quarterback in league history to throw for 200-plus yards with two or more touchdowns in four consecutive home games.

The Raiders have a disappointing season

The Las Vegas Raiders are at the bottom of the AFC West with a 2-8 record, including 1-3 at home. They have lost the last six games and are coming off a 34-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Gardner Minshew went 30 of 43 for a total of 282 yards and two touchdowns.

Betting Trends

The Raiders are 0-6 SU in their last 6 games overall, 1-4 SU in their last 5 games played in November and 2-4 SU in their last 6 games played in Week 12. They are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games overall, 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games against Denver and 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games against teams from the AFC West. Las Vegas has played over the total point line in 5 of their last 6 games overall, 4 of their last 5 home games and their last 5 games against teams from the AFC West, while has played under in 11 of their last 16 games against Denver. The Broncos are 6-3 SU in their last 9 games overall, 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games against the Raiders, 2-5 SU in their last 7 games against teamsa from the AFC and 5-14 SU in their last 19 games against teams from the AFC West. They are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall, 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games against Las Vegas and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on the road. Denver has played under the total point line in 5 of their last 7 games overall and over in 13 of their last 15 games in November.

Prediction and Conclusion

The Las Vegas Raiders have the longest active losing streak in the league, and their six-game fallout started with a 34-18 Week 5 loss to the Broncos. Denver has been quite the opposite, as no one really expected of them to be in the playoff conversation, but Bo Nix has been improving in every game. The rookie from Oregon has thrown 2,275 yards so far this season in addition to 14 touchdowns. Over the past two games, Nix has 522 passing yards with six touchdowns and zero interceptions. On the other hand, Raiders starter Gardner Minshew hasn’t had the same success recently, as he has just eight passing touchdowns and nine interceptions, and his 1,783 yards for the season rank him 24th among starting quarterbacks. The Raiders may hold tight in the first half, but the Broncos will take over control and win the game by covering the -6-point spread.