Oakland Vs New Orleans 2016 NFL Winning Predictions

Posted by Henry Watkins on Thursday,August 4, 2016 5:25, EDT in

NFL News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

Fans of NFL football are well aware that there are going to be periods of time where their team are in a rebuilding phase. There are a number of factors that go into the length of that down time, and for many teams, bad management has them stuck in a rut for a length of time that can turn them into a laughing stock. That is what has happened with the Oakland Raiders, as they have been amongst the bottom dwellers in the league for as long as anyone can remember. There were some definite signs of a revival last year, though, and the Raiders are coming into this season as one of the dark horses in the AFC. The New Orleans Saints franchise has not been in a swoon for as long as the Raiders have, but the natives are certainly starting to get restless. This is a good opportunity for both teams to get the 2016 NFL season off to a good start, and perhaps send their Super Bowl 51 lines in the right direction. Let’s take a closer look.

Raiders Vs Saints 2016 NFL Winning Predictions

When: Sunday, September 11 at 1 PM EST
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
TV: TBA
Radio: TBA
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
NFL Odds: TBA

Why bet on the Oakland Raiders

There are a number of reasons why the Raiders have been so bad for so long, but the lack of a franchise QB is a reason that certainly sits at the top of the list. They may finally have found their man in Derek Carr, as he threw for close to 4,000 yards last season. The Oakland Raiders have drafted well in the past couple of years, and have brought in some good free agents to put some weapons around their QB. If this group can stay healthy, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be competing for top spot in the AFC West in the final few weeks of the season. This road game to start the season is tough, but it’s one they can win.

Why bet on the New Orleans Saints

The Saints finished the season at 7-9 last year, and were miles behind the Carolina Panthers, who have now taken control of the NFC South. It’s asking a little much to have the Saints overhaul the Panthers this season, but there are many football insiders who believe that New Orleans could well be in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. Their fortunes are once again going to fall on the shoulders of Drew Brees, as this team tends to go as he does. A 0-3 start hurt this team last season, and they will be looking to avoid that this time around by winning their opening game at home.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The Saints have won each of their last 3 meetings with the Raiders, but all of those wins came at a time when these franchises were heading in very different directions. This should be a closer game, and I think that we will see some scoring here too. I’m giving the slight edge to the Raiders here.