When the Oakland Raiders were handed the NFL’s most difficult schedule as a team that was projected at 4.5 wins by Vegas oddsmakers heading into the 2014 regular season it was expected that the team would be underdogs against the spread in the majority of the games they played, but heading into Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills they will once again be underdogs in a season where the Silver and Black won’t be favorites in a single game.
Oakland are again underdogs as Kyle Orton and the Bills coming to town, meaning that with the Denver Broncos as their Week 17 opponent that the Raiders won’t get the love from the oddsmakers until the 2015 season at earliest. In fact after Thursday Night Football last night, the Raiders will be the only team to not be favored all season as the Jaguars covered as 3.5 point favorites against the Tennessee Titans.
The last game the Raiders were favorites in was a disaster: A blowout loss to the then struggling Philadelphia Eagles at the Coliseum in which Nick Foles had the game of his life.
From ProFootballTalk
"With the Jaguars closing as favorites vs. the Titans on Thursday night, 31-of-32 teams have been favored by oddsmakers this season.The lone exception is the Raiders, who have been underdogs in 22 consecutive regular-season games. They were one-point favorites vs. Philadelphia on November 3, 2013, a game they lost 49-20. The Raiders’ underdog streak is poised to extend to 23 games; the Bills are 6.5-point favorites at Oakland on Sunday."
Even though they have been underdogs often this season, the Raiders have been a good bet in spots this year, especially as home underdogs. They are 7-7 against the spread in 2014, a number that can get better if they can put another scare into team in the midst of a playoff race on Sunday in Oakland’s home finale. Facing Kyle Orton, it may not be crazy to suggest that at the very least the Raiders can cover three straight spreads at home to end 2014 as they look for their third consecutive win at the Coliseum to close what has been a difficult season.