The Oakland Raiders and New York Jets will open the 2014 NFL season on Sunday at MetLife Stadium with the home team favored to come out on top.
NFL odds and lines 2014, Week 1: Raiders vs. Jets
Oakland has its work cut out for it as an underdog traveling across the country to open the NFL season.
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The game is projected to be close, with a projected score of 15-13 in favor of the Jets according OddsShark.com. The spread is 5.5 points; Oakland has had trouble covering of late when facing AFC East squads, with a 2-7 record over the last nine contests.
The running game will likely play a major role in the outcome. The Raiders struggled to control the clock in 2013 with 2:28 taken per drive, good for 21st among all teams in that respect. On defense, they allowed 15 rushing touchdowns, which ranked 23rd.
They'll have an early test against the Jets, who ranked No. 6 in yardage a year ago with 2,158 yards on the ground. Newcomer Chris Johnson will pair with Chris Ivory to create a formidable 1-2 punch out of the backfield.
On offense, the Raiders have a question mark in rookie Derek Carr slated to make his first start. Without a proven signal-caller to provide balance, the rushing attack could find little room against a front seven that proved adept at stopping the run in 2013.
For full odds and a detailed preview, be sure to visit OddsShark.
