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https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2794296-bleacher-reports-expert-consensus-week-1-nfl-picks
We've tasked Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Brad Gagnon and Brent Sobleski with picking every game this season, against the spread.
Rams@Raiders
The Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders appear to be headed in opposite directions, figuratively and literally (the Rams came to California from St. Louis, while the Raiders are leaving California for Las Vegas).
L.A. has built on the momentum it had coming off a breakout 2017 by upgrading the roster on both sides of the ball this offseason, while Oakland reacted to a down year by going back to a retread caricature of a head coach, investing in several over-the-hill veterans and then trading their best all-around player in Khalil Mack.
That's why Davenport and Sobleski are surprised to see the Rams laying just four points in the Week 1 finale Monday night.
"This game has the makings of a bloodbath," Davenport said. "I don't know that I completely buy all the hype surrounding the Rams—the whole 'Dream Team' narrative makes this writer a little nervous—but there's no denying these teams are headed in very different directions.
"I don't see how a Mack-less Raiders team is going to stop, or even slow down, Todd Gurley on the ground or Jared Goff through the air. If the Rams are able to score at will, that's going to put a ton of pressure on Oakland to try to match score for score, which will both allow the Rams to pin their ears back and ramp up the possibility the Raiders turn it over. Rams by two touchdowns."
Gagnon would like to warn you about a potential Week 1 trap, but he's in the minority.
Score Prediction: Los Angeles 31, Oakland 20
--------------------------------------------------------
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...old-gets-win-in-debut-rams-house-the-raiders/
Los Angeles Rams at Oakland
Monday, 10:20 p.m. ET (ESPN)
There is a conversation to be had about whether the Raiders are the NFL's worst team. It's silly to make such proclamations before they've even played a game, but new-old coach Jon Gruden hasn't exactly transitioned smoothly back onto the sidelines. He spent the offseason acquiring aging players like Jordy Nelson and Doug Martin, or trading for unworldly talents like Martavis Bryant (to the tune of a third-round pick) only to cut him last week.
Then there's outside linebacker Khalil Mack. One of the league's most talented young players was holding out to be paid like ... one of the league's most talented young players. But instead of negotiating, the Raiders instead focused on signing other players, leaving them no budget for Mack.
The result: A below-average defense got markedly worse and Mack got what he was seeking from the Bears. The Raiders did get two first-rounders in return, though neither pick will help the team now, nor are there any guarantees that the team will be able to identify first-round talents with those selections in 2019 and 2020.
Perhaps the only thing the Rams share in common with the Raiders is that their best player, defensive lineman Aaron Donald, also held out for a new contract. Los Angeles paid Donald what he was worth, and now the team heads into the season as favorites to win the NFC West, and are a lot of folks' favorites to represent the conference in the Super Bowl.
Pick: Rams 34, Raiders 9
------------------------------
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/09/06/pfts-week-one-picks-9/
Rams at Raiders
MDS’s take: This looks like an ugly return to Oakland for Jon Gruden. The Rams will win easily.
MDS’s pick: Rams 30, Raiders 17.
Florio’s take: The best game of Week One took a hit with the Khalil Mack trade. Derek Carr will take even more hits, now that Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh are finally together.
Florio’s pick: Rams 31, Raiders 17.
-------------------------------------------
https://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/09/nfl_week_1_picks_predictions_point_spreads_betting.html
Los Angeles Rams (-4) at Oakland Raiders
Ah, the Jon Gruden 2.0 experiment begins. With the dust settled after the Khalil Mack trade, don’t be surprised if the Raiders come out flat. That will be a disaster vs. a Rams team poised for a huge regular season. MY PICK: Rams.
PICKS
Dunleavy: Rams
Giglio: Rams
Lombardo: Rams
Rosenblatt: Rams
Slater: Rams
Stypulkoski: Rams
----------------------------
http://www.espn.com/nfl/picks
Bowen - Rams
Clay - Rams
Golic - Rams
Graziano - Rams
Kimes - Rams
Riddick - Rams
Seifert - Rams
Wickersham - Rams
Wingo - Rams
We've tasked Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Brad Gagnon and Brent Sobleski with picking every game this season, against the spread.
Rams@Raiders
The Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders appear to be headed in opposite directions, figuratively and literally (the Rams came to California from St. Louis, while the Raiders are leaving California for Las Vegas).
L.A. has built on the momentum it had coming off a breakout 2017 by upgrading the roster on both sides of the ball this offseason, while Oakland reacted to a down year by going back to a retread caricature of a head coach, investing in several over-the-hill veterans and then trading their best all-around player in Khalil Mack.
That's why Davenport and Sobleski are surprised to see the Rams laying just four points in the Week 1 finale Monday night.
"This game has the makings of a bloodbath," Davenport said. "I don't know that I completely buy all the hype surrounding the Rams—the whole 'Dream Team' narrative makes this writer a little nervous—but there's no denying these teams are headed in very different directions.
"I don't see how a Mack-less Raiders team is going to stop, or even slow down, Todd Gurley on the ground or Jared Goff through the air. If the Rams are able to score at will, that's going to put a ton of pressure on Oakland to try to match score for score, which will both allow the Rams to pin their ears back and ramp up the possibility the Raiders turn it over. Rams by two touchdowns."
Gagnon would like to warn you about a potential Week 1 trap, but he's in the minority.
Score Prediction: Los Angeles 31, Oakland 20
--------------------------------------------------------
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...old-gets-win-in-debut-rams-house-the-raiders/
Los Angeles Rams at Oakland
Monday, 10:20 p.m. ET (ESPN)
There is a conversation to be had about whether the Raiders are the NFL's worst team. It's silly to make such proclamations before they've even played a game, but new-old coach Jon Gruden hasn't exactly transitioned smoothly back onto the sidelines. He spent the offseason acquiring aging players like Jordy Nelson and Doug Martin, or trading for unworldly talents like Martavis Bryant (to the tune of a third-round pick) only to cut him last week.
Then there's outside linebacker Khalil Mack. One of the league's most talented young players was holding out to be paid like ... one of the league's most talented young players. But instead of negotiating, the Raiders instead focused on signing other players, leaving them no budget for Mack.
The result: A below-average defense got markedly worse and Mack got what he was seeking from the Bears. The Raiders did get two first-rounders in return, though neither pick will help the team now, nor are there any guarantees that the team will be able to identify first-round talents with those selections in 2019 and 2020.
Perhaps the only thing the Rams share in common with the Raiders is that their best player, defensive lineman Aaron Donald, also held out for a new contract. Los Angeles paid Donald what he was worth, and now the team heads into the season as favorites to win the NFC West, and are a lot of folks' favorites to represent the conference in the Super Bowl.
Pick: Rams 34, Raiders 9
------------------------------
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/09/06/pfts-week-one-picks-9/
Rams at Raiders
MDS’s take: This looks like an ugly return to Oakland for Jon Gruden. The Rams will win easily.
MDS’s pick: Rams 30, Raiders 17.
Florio’s take: The best game of Week One took a hit with the Khalil Mack trade. Derek Carr will take even more hits, now that Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh are finally together.
Florio’s pick: Rams 31, Raiders 17.
-------------------------------------------
https://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/09/nfl_week_1_picks_predictions_point_spreads_betting.html
Los Angeles Rams (-4) at Oakland Raiders
Ah, the Jon Gruden 2.0 experiment begins. With the dust settled after the Khalil Mack trade, don’t be surprised if the Raiders come out flat. That will be a disaster vs. a Rams team poised for a huge regular season. MY PICK: Rams.
PICKS
Dunleavy: Rams
Giglio: Rams
Lombardo: Rams
Rosenblatt: Rams
Slater: Rams
Stypulkoski: Rams
----------------------------
http://www.espn.com/nfl/picks
Bowen - Rams
Clay - Rams
Golic - Rams
Graziano - Rams
Kimes - Rams
Riddick - Rams
Seifert - Rams
Wickersham - Rams
Wingo - Rams
