Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders NFL Preview and Odds
The Chiefs and Raiders have one of football's longest and greatest rivalries. The teams have been playing since they were charter members of the old AFL in 1960. The Chiefs are one of only two teams that has a winning record over the Raiders with more than ten meetings. The Chiefs lead the all time series 55-50-2.
History
Some of the greats of this game made their names in Raiders-Chiefs games. Ben Davidson, Len Dawson, Bobby Bell, Daryl Lamonica, Fred Biletnikoff, Jim Otto, and so many others from the 1960s and 1970s made this the AFL's greatest rivalry.
The Chiefs or Raiders played in three of the four Super Bowl games involving the AFL. The Chiefs win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV was the final game before the merger and sent the AFL out a world championship winner. Coach Hank Stram ended up in the broadcast booth and then the Hall of Fame after his days with the Chiefs,After Stram, Coach John Madden led the Raiders to a Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XI and parlayed that into a hugely successful broadcasting career. Quarterback Ken Stabler, receivers Cliff Branch and Dave Casper and defensive stars such as Ted Hendricks, Jack Tatum, George Atkinson and John Matusczak, and linemen such as Gene Upshaw and company kept the Raiders atop the NFL as the Chiefs began to fade.
But the Chiefs Raiders games were still some of the best of the season. It doesn't matter what the records are to this day, the Chiefs and Raiders games are hotly contested.
Both teams have been down in recent years. This year both teams are going through very tough seasons. The Raiders are 3-10 this season including losing six in a row. The Chiefs are 2-11 but have a win in their last two games. They beat the Carolina Panthers the day after their linebacker Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and then himself. The Chiefs' management staff witnessed the suicide then had to go lead the team the next day.
The Raiders won the previous meeting between the two teams, 26-16 on October 28th in Kansas City.
Our Pick
5Dimes has the odds on this week's Chiefs-Raiders game:
The Chiefs are +2.5 +110 or +135. The Raiders are -2.5 -130 or -155. Over/under is 43. The Chiefs had a big emotional let down a week ago which is understandable. They should be able to get back up for the Raiders.
We are going to take the Chiefs straight up +135. We will also go with the over.
Even though there are no playoff implications in this game, it will still be a lot of fun to watch.
