[Tommy]

I havent made up my mind yet ion this game, will have a pick up later on today

Heres some Trends

Thursday, September 8th

Oakland Raiders at New England Patriots, 9:00 EST
Oakland Raiders - 2-12 ATS first half of the season
New England Patriots - 15-2 ATS as a home favorite

[Tommy]

OAKLAND (5 - 11) at NEW ENGLAND (17 - 2) - 9/8/2005, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
OAKLAND is 6-16 ATS (-11.6 Units) against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
OAKLAND is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
NEW ENGLAND is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NEW ENGLAND is 20-6 ATS (+13.4 Units) against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
NEW ENGLAND is 25-7 ATS (+17.3 Units) in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
NEW ENGLAND is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
NEW ENGLAND is 21-7 ATS (+13.3 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
NEW ENGLAND is 15-2 ATS (+12.8 Units) in home games over the last 3 seasons.
NEW ENGLAND is 15-2 ATS (+12.8 Units) in home lined games over the last 3 seasons

[naught33]

yeah im mulling over the game right now as well, leaning twds oak though, those point are awfully inviting

[Tommy]

Heres my plays for tonight.....

NFL Record 0-0


Oakland +8.............3*


8 Point Tease Oakland +16 and under 58................3*


BOL EVERYONE KICK IT OFF RIGHT!!

[Tommy]

RAIDERS OFFENSE VS. PATRIOTS DEFENSE

The man doing the passing to Moss will be quarterback Kerry Collins, who threw
for 3,495 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first year with Oakland last season,
but who also tossed a league high-tying 20 interceptions. Collins will look
not only to Moss but to holdover wideouts Jerry Porter (64 receptions, 9 TD in
2004) and Doug Gabriel (33 receptions, 2 TD), among others. Ronald Curry, who
was second on the team with 50 catches and six TDs last season, missed most of
training camp while rehabbing from a torn Achilles suffered in December of
last season and is not yet ready for a full-time role. Courtney Anderson (13
receptions, 1 TD) should open as the tight end. The offensive line gave up a
modest 30 sacks last season, and will be anchored by second-year pros Jake
Grove (center) and Robert Gallery (right tackle).

Responsibility for corralling the likes of Moss and Porter will fall to
Patriots cornerbacks Asante Samuel (36 tackles, 1 INT) and Randall Gay (34
tackles, 2 INT), the formerly inexperienced duo who performed well in helping
New England to last year's Super Bowl title. Safeties Rodney Harrison (138
tackles, 2 INT) and Eugene Wilson (67 tackles, 4 INT) will provide additional
pass coverage, and offseason acquisition Duane Starks (58 tackles, 3 INT) and
fellow cornerback Tyrone Poole, who missed most of 2004 with a knee injury,
will be called upon as well. New England will likely try to place a great deal
of pressure on Collins, with outside linebackers Mike Vrabel (5.5 sacks in
2004), Willie McGinest (9.5 sacks), Roosevelt Colvin (5 sacks) and end Richard
Seymour (5 sacks) at the heart of that effort.

Oakland finished last in the NFL in rushing a year ago (80.9 yards per game),
and brought in former Jet LaMont Jordan (479 rushing yards, 2 TD, 15
receptions with New York in 2004) to solidify that area. Jordan will be
starting his first game on Thursday following 62 reserve appearances in four
seasons with the Jets. Playing fullback and serving as a backup to Jordan is
11-year veteran Zack Crockett (232 rushing yards, 2 TD, 16 receptions).

There will be a great deal of focus on new Patriots inside linebackers Monty
Beisel (51 tackles with the Chiefs) and Chad Brown (37 tackles with the
Seahawks) on Thursday night, as the duo try to take over for Bruschi and
Johnson while concentrating on stopping Jordan. Beisel and Brown should be set
up for a number of tackles by Patriots linemen Seymour (39 tackles), Ty Warren
(48 tackles) and Vince Wilfork (42 tackles), who were effective at the
forefront of the team's 3-4 defense a year ago. The Patriots were sixth in the
league against the run last season.


PATRIOTS OFFENSE VS. RAIDERS DEFENSE

Three-time Pro Bowler Tom Brady (3692 passing yards, 28 TD, 14 INT) will once
again be at the controls of the New England offense, and will have at least
one new weapon at his disposal. The Patriots traded for former Brown Andre'
Davis, who had 93 catches and 13 touchdowns in three years with Cleveland, on
Aug. 22. Davis will start the season as a reserve behind holdovers Deion
Branch (35 receptions, 4 TD) and David Givens (56 receptions, 3 TD). Tight
ends Daniel Graham (30 receptions, 7 TD), Christian Fauria (16 receptions, 2
TD) and Ben Watson will factor into the pass-catching mix as well. The New
England line surrendered just 26 sacks last season, and four of five starters
return from the 2004 unit.

The Raiders recorded just 25 sacks in 2004, the second-lowest figure in the
league, and made some changes in the offseason to help reverse that trend.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan oversaw a switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, a
move that should help tackle Warren Sapp (a career-low 2.5 sacks last season)
be more productive. End Tommy Kelly (4 sacks) was the team's 2004 sack leader,
and will rotate with former Eagle Derrick Burgess (2.5 sacks with the Eagles)
at the position. Converted ends Tyler Brayton (2.5 sacks) and Grant Irons (1
sack) will be counted on for their pass rushing ability at outside linebacker.
In the secondary, Charles Woodson (73 tackles, 1 INT) heads an inexperienced
unit that will also feature cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, free safety Stuart
Schweigert, and strong safety Derrick Gibson, three players that combined for
just 10 starts last season. The Raiders were 30th in the league against the
pass in 2004.

The New England running game will again be in the capable hands of Corey
Dillon, who established career highs in rushing yards (1635) and rushing
touchdowns (12) a season ago. Dillon will be spelled by veteran backup Kevin
Faulk (255 rushing yards, 26 receptions, 3 TD) and fullback Patrick Pass (141
rushing yards, 28 receptions) should see a few touches as well.

Oakland was just 22nd in the league against the rush last season, which was an
improvement over the 32nd-place finish in 2003 but far from the major
development the team was looking for. Middle linebacker Danny Clark (129
tackles), who led the Raiders in stops last season, will have to prove that he
can thrive in the new scheme, as will run-stuffing defensive tackle Ted
Washington (41 tackles, 3 sacks). Offseason acquisition Ed Jasper (34 tackles
with Atlanta) should also be sturdy against the run, and end Bobby Hamilton
(57 tackles) will probably appear when the club switches to 3-4 sets in
rushing situations.


OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Raiders will make headlines this season for their offensive prowess, but
an Oakland defense employing a new scheme and featuring a wealth of spare
parts will struggle. Look for the Patriots to exploit the Silver and Black's
many defensive holes, and to score at will. On the other side of the ball,
Jordan and Moss will help to move the offense, but Collins will probably be
good for an untimely mistake or two, errors that will place the Raiders in the
loss column.

www.sportsnetwork.com

[naught33]

BOL tonight man, i think Oak has a chance to win this game if they can pick up the NE zone dogs