Betting Picks

Raiders at 49ers: TNF NFL Week 9 Betting Preview and Pick

The Week 9 Thursday game is perhaps one of the worst prime-time matchups in modern history as the Oakland Raiders (1-6) visit their neighbors from across the San Francisco Bay, the 49ers (1-7), in a game that means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. Hey, the loser could prove a big winner in terms of a better shot at the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft. And you can still bet on the Raiders vs 49ers odds for this matchup to make it interesting.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. The Raiders hired successful coach Jon Gruden in the offseason and the 49ers had a rising star quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo. However, Gruden is selling off his roster piece-by-piece with an eye toward Las Vegas in 2020, and Jimmy G is out for the season.

San Francisco is a 3-point favorite and is our against the spread pick. The total is 47.

Why San Francisco will cover the Raiders vs 49ers odds

Well, the Niners’ lone victory was at home, a 30-27 win over Detroit in Week 2. Then again, they still had Garoppolo. On Sunday, the 49ers were 3-point road favorites at Arizona, which should tell you how bad Arizona is this season. Yet, the Cardinals completed the season sweep with an 18-15 victory, despite trailing 15-3 in the fourth quarter. It was an unwatchable first half with a baseball score of 5-3. San Francisco gave up the winning touchdown pass with 34 seconds left.

Two San Francisco starters, receiver Pierre Garcon and center Weston Richburg, sat out with injuries and linebacker Reuben Foster, the former first-round pick, left with a hamstring injury. It is obviously going to be tough for any injured guys to play on a short week.

Oakland betting notes for Thursday

The Raiders came off their bye – during which they traded receiver and 2015 No. 4 overall pick Amari Cooper to Dallas for a 2019 first-round pick – and lost 42-28 at home to Indianapolis. The Colts outscored Oakland 21-0 in the fourth quarter. The Raiders allowed 461 yards of offense and have surrendered at least 26 points in every game but one.

Derek Carr, amid his own trade rumors, played pretty well despite missing Cooper, completing 21 of 28 for 244 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for his first pro touchdown. Pro Bowl left guard Kelechi Osemele missed a third straight game with a knee injury. Oakland has now covered just twice in its past 12 games as an NFL odds underdog and hasn’t been able to win any of them.

San Francisco vs. Oakland line movement

Some books opened the Raiders vs 49ers odds at -3.5, while the total has stayed steady.

San Francisco vs. Oakland matchup trends

• The Raiders have covered just two of their past 10 on the road.
• San Francisco is 3-1 SU and ATS in the past four in the series.
• The total has gone under in the past four between the teams.