NFL FOOTBALL BETTING PREDICTION - SAN DIEGO CHARGERS @ OAKLAND RAIDERS

NFL Football

2007-12-30 - San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS @ OAKLAND RAIDERS
Sunday, December 30, 4:15 p.m. ET
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, California

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Oakland will have a look at their future this weekend as JeMarcus Russell is expected to take the majority of the snaps in this match. The Raiders have had another disappointing season with a record of 4-11 and little challenge for the AFC West title. They would like to stick a spanner in the momentum generated by their divisional rivals the Chargers, but this will be tough.

Oakland are only 2-5 at home and have lost 3 straight games overall. They have lost 4 of their last 5 at home but have only suffered 1 double digit loss at home since their 15 point defeat against Detroit in Week 1. The Raiders have not scored more than 14 points in any of their previous 3 losses and they have given up 38, 21 and 49 points in those losses.

Oakland have no new injuries to worry about and Warren Sapp is available after his ejection last week as the NFL have not applied any further suspensions yet.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

San Diego have already wrapped up the AFC West divisional title with their 10-5 record. The Chargers would like to win this game as it would secure a number 3 spot in the playoffs, meaning they will entertain Cleveland/Tennessee in the wild card round of the playoffs.

A defeat coupled with a Pittsburgh win would mean they entertain the hot Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that has already defeated the Chargers this season.

San Diego are solid at home but a disappointing 3-4 on the road this season. They have some momentum behind them as they have won 5 straight matches since the defeat at Jacksonville. They have scored at least 23 points in those matches while restrictiong teams to less than 17 points during the same stretch. They have already won comfortably at Denver and Kansas City, 2 other AFC West teams, this season.

Luis Castillo and Shawne Merriman were both back last week for the Chargers defence and both had very big games. They should play their starters until the game is secured.

statistics

San Diego have won 8 straight games against the Oakland Raiders in the series and that includes a comfortable 14 point win earlier this season.

San Diego have won 3 straight times in Oakland, winning the last 2 by 27 and 13 points respectively. San Diego have won 4 of the last 5 matches with Oakland by double digits and have won 8 of the last 9 against the spread against Oakland.

Oakland have lost 2 of their last 3 matches against the spread while San Diego have won 5 straight.

PREDICTION :

San Diego need a win as they dont want to play Jacksonville when Tennessee/Cleveland would a more achievable victory and mean a trip to Indianapolis rather than New England during the Divisional Championship games.

They also seem to have gained some momentum just in time for the playoffs and I dont think they will let up here.

Oakland will hope Russell does better than last week when he threw 3 interceptions and 1 fumble, but the Chargers will be swarming all over him and I think he struggles again.

The Pick :