Oakland vs. Tennessee Free Week 1 NFL Football Pick
The 2010 NFL Football season opens on Thursday. Veteran sportswriter Matt Martz will preview all of the weekly AFC West match ups throughout the season, providing some insight to help make your NFL football wagers winners. Check back every week for your complete source for NCAA football gambling right here on CappersPicks.com.
Date/Time: Sunday, September 1 2, 1:00 PM ET
Venue: LP Field in Nashville, TN.
Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans Lines
Money Line: Not available yet
Spread: Titans -6
Over/Under: 47.5
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Without JaMarcus Russell the Raiders are already a better team, winning three of their preseason contests in the wake of rock-solid play from quarterback Jason Campbell.
But will the 28-year old be able to replicate his performance with the 2009 Redskins, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 20 TDs?
He certainly will have the tools to ply his trade, including WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, who after putting up disappointing numbers in 2009, had a good preseason showing as well as tight end Zach Miller who had three touchdown receptions in August. Both of who should be able to abuse a weak Titans secondary that finished 31st in the league last season.
Should the Raiders passing attack suddenly become paralyzed like it did for much of the 2009 season, head coach Tom Cable will be able to deploy the Raiders two-headed ground assault that encompasses the running back duo of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush–currently out with a thumb injury—who should fare well against a mediocre Tennessee front four.
Still, much off Oakland’s success against the Titans will remain with its defenses’ ability to contain one of the best running backs in the league –Tennessee’s Chris Johnson, who finished last season with 14 TDs and over 2,000 yards on the ground and shows no signs of slowing down in 2010 as he attempts to break Eric Dickerson’s NFL season record of 2,105 rushing yards in a single season. 
This could be a problem for an Oakland defense that ranked 26th in total team defense while being 29th against the run.
They did however rank 7th against the pass, with a solid pass rush that racked up 37 sacks.
That could spell trouble for starting QB Vince Young, who was brought in as a replacement for a struggling Kerry Collins, four games in to the 2009 campaign. Despite receiving no playing time for the first quarter of the season, Young came off the bench throwing for 10 TDs and nearly 1,900 yards.
His should have plenty of time to survey the field behind what is perhaps one of the best solid offensive lines in the NFL that returns 4 of 5 starters from a year ago.
Looking downfield he will have a plethora of receiving options including WR Kenny Britt who will flank wide out Nate Washington that lead the Titan’s with six touchdown receptions a year ago.
After dropping their first six games a year ago, the Titans went on a rampage ending their 2009 campaign winning eight of their last 10 that included a five game win streak finishing the season at 8-8 overall.
It was a far cry better finish than the Raiders, who finished 5-11 in 2009, for its seventh consecutive season under .500.
Now the Titans will have the opportunity of a fresh season with Young under center to prove that Tennessee still has what it takes to challenge Indy for the top spot in the AFC South.
The Raiders still have a lot of bridges to cross despite new defensive additions, but at the same time could be sitting on their best chance to open their first winning season since 2002, while avoiding their eighth season-opening loss in a row with a win at Tennessee on Sunday.
Free Pick: Tennessee -6
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Matt Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
