[Tommy]

The waiting is almost over for frustrated NFL fans as Sunday’s Hall of Fame Game begins a 65 game pre-season bonanza in the run-up to the start of the football season. All eyes will be on the Fawcett Stadium, in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the National Football League.

The Eagles look to maintain a perfect record in Hall of Fame Games, in the 44th renewal of the traditional pre-season kickoff in Canton, Ohio, when they face the Raiders on Sunday. Oakland hopes to complement the Hall of Fame induction of legendary Raiders coach John Madden with a third win in Canton. A Philly victory, however, would honor the late Eagles great Reggie White, who’ll join the Hall posthumously.

The teams have had nine regular season meetings, the last on September 25, 2005 at Lincoln Financial Field, a 23-20 Eagles victory.

Oakland finished 2005 in the cellar of the AFC West posting a dismal 4-12 record that included a season-ending six game losing streak, so unsurprisingly Pinnacle has installed the Raiders as three point underdogs at -109. Raider Nation will expect improvement with the return of head coach Art Shell replacing the much maligned Norv Turner. Since guiding the Raiders to three playoff appearances in five seasons and posting a 54-38 record with Shell at the helm, Oakland has made it to the playoffs only three times in the following 11 years.

Sunday marks the debut of veteran quarterback Aaron Brooks in the Silver and Black as he takes the reigns of the offense from an ineffective Kerry Collins. Brooks heads into Oakland tied for fourth-most TD passes (111) in the past five years hoping to re-establish the vertical passing game by taking full advantage of Randy Moss’ big-play ability. The Raiders aren’t without controversy entering the 2006 season as wide receiver Jerry Porter has demanded a trade and will likely miss the Hall of Fame game with a calf strain. Despite several coaching and personnel changes, PinnacleSports.com lists the Raiders as long shots at +5000 to win the AFC Championship and +10000 to win Super Bowl XLI.

The Eagles are also coming off a disappointing 2005 campaign, finishing 6-10 at the bottom of the NFC East after reaching the Super Bowl the prior season. Head coach Andy Reid singled out the line of scrimmage as a key weakness last season and expects Philly’s off-season acquisitions to solve the problem. Adding six players via free agency, eight draft picks and returning several key players from injury, should give the Eagles a fresh look and feel when they take the field. Philadelphia also enters 2006 without the off-field distractions and antics of Terrell Owens, who was released and later joined the Cowboys. The T.O.-less Eagles will turn to second-year receiver Reggie Brown in the passing game, but Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook are expected to shoulder the load on offense. Philadelphia is a dark horse candidate this year and is listed as a respectable +1471 to win the NFC title and +3213 by Pinnacle Sports for the 2007 Super Bowl.

Bettors can back the Eagles as 3-point favorites over the Raiders Sunday at +101 or play Philadelphia at -150 on the money line with the total at 36.5 points. The game averages 33.11 points in its 43-year history, but has risen to 35 points over the past five years.

For a smarter way to bet the NFL visit PinnacleSports.com and get –104 style pricing on NFL sides and –105 style pricing on NFL moneylines and totals.

Game Spread Money Line Total Points More
Sun 8/6 451 Oakland Raiders +3 -109 +140 OVER 36.5 -106
05:00 PM 452 Philadelphia Eagles -3 +101 -150 UNDER 36.5 -104

*odds subject to change