Oakland at Kansas City Odds, Expert Pick & TV Info

The NFL’s Thursday night schedule has left much to be desired this season. But it’s a spectacular matchup this week, perhaps the best prime-time game of the year, when Oakland (10-2) visits Kansas City (9-3) with first place in the AFC West on the line and perhaps the AFC’s top playoff seeding when all is said and done. The Chiefs are home favorites in the NFL odds on what should be a cold night.

Oakland at Kansas City Odds, Expert Pick & TV Info

#OAKvsKC is the 5th-best game* in #TNF history based on combined records. #TNF

*in games taking place WK4 or later pic.twitter.com/GxzXZRXVWd — NFL Network (@nflnetwork) December 7, 2016

When: Thursday, Dec. 8, 8:30 PM ET Where: Arrowhead Stadium, K.C. TV: NBC Radio: Oakland / Kansas City Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Lines: Chiefs -3 (46)

Why Bet on Oakland?

The Raiders clinch a playoff spot with a win here and a Dolphins loss on Sunday, OR a Broncos loss on Sunday. Oakland has won six games in a row, including last week’s 38-24 come-from- behind victory over Buffalo. The Raiders trailed by 15 points in the second half before rallying to score the game’s final 29 points. Derek Carr led yet another comeback with two touchdown passes in the second half and Khalil Mack helped force two turnovers that rallied the Raiders to their biggest comeback in 16 years. Carr finished the day with a 97.3 quarterback rating, throwing for 260 yards on 19-of- 35 passing with those two touchdowns. WR Michael Crabtree led Oakland’s receiving corps, posting 74 yards on seven receptions and one touchdown. RBs Latavius Murray (20 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns) and Jalen Richard (nine carries for 53 yards) paced a strong rushing attack for the Raiders. Carr has 11 touchdown passes and one interception in the fourth quarter and overtime this season. Carr has already matched the win total he posted in his first two years combined as Oakland’s playoff drought reached 13 seasons. Mack is the only player in the NFL this season with at least 10 sacks (10) and an interception (one). ​ This season, the Raiders have come up big away from their home stadium. In six games played away from Oakland (five road games plus one home game in Mexico City), the Raiders are 6-0. Their start marks the first time since 1977 that the team has begun a season 5-0 on the road. The Raiders have not played a true road game since Oct. 30 at Tampa Bay.

Why Bet on Kansas City?

The Chiefs have won seven of their past eight games, including last week’s 29-28 comeback win at Atlanta. Safety Eric Berry intercepted a two-point conversion attempt and returned it for the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, the first game-winning defensive two-point conversion scored when his team was trailing. Berry also returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown and is the first player in NFL history to return an interception for both a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the same game. QB Alex Smith has quietly put together another good season, completing 67.4 percent of his passes while tossing for 11 scores, 2,567 yards and only four interceptions, earning a passer rating of 92.5. TE Travis Kelce leads the team in both receptions (65) and receiving yards (815). His 815 yards receiving are first in the AFC and second in the NFL this season. In Thursday Night Football’s 11-year history, there are only two games (after Week 5) in which the combined win percentage of the two teams involved exceeded that of the Chiefs and Raiders headed into this game. The Chiefs won in Oakland 26-10 in Week 6. Spencer Ware ran for a career-high 131 yards and a touchdown. Smith completed 19 of 22 passes for 224 yards and the Chiefs forced two turnovers by Carr. Marcus Peters set up Ware's TD run with an early interception of Carr and Dee Ford forced a fumble from Carr in the fourth quarter to end any hopes of a late comeback.

Oakland at Kansas City Expert Pick: Kansas City

Favorite is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings. Under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Kansas City. Take Kansas City on NFL odds and under the total.