Both of these teams off of a bye and both went into the bye struggling. Thigs ought to be better for each side after having a week to get issues sorted out. When two teams meet, both off a bye, games tend to stay under the total, and that means points are precious. Raiders are excellent in a teaser leg, taking them up to +8.5 but I believe they win this game outright. Teams tend to respond in a big way after being shutout and that has already happened twice this season. I expect that trend to continue with Las Vegas. Brock Bowers is back and Devin Lloyd is OUT for Jax. Raiders right the ship at home this afternoon and get an outright win.

Reports coming from Las Vegas indicate their star TE Bowers is finally healthy again, and should be ready to ramp up coming out of the bye week. Bowers has yet to log a game with more than 5 catches this season, but he's been playing injured. Last season, Bowers went over this line in 9 games, and logged 11 catches on 13 targets when he played the Jaguars last December. I expect the Raiders to pepper Bowers with targets early and often.

Jags promising rookie WR Travis Hunter just landed on the IR, suffering a non-contact knee injury during Friday’s practice. Jacksonville has struggled to get WR1 Brian Thomas Jr. going this season, so Hunter’s absence could loom large. Coming out of a bye week, I expect the Jags to go with a run-heavy approach. Las Vegas also had a Week 8 bye, and since 2015 the Under is 23-12-1 when both teams are off a bye week. The Raiders were shut out last week, and put up just 10 points the week prior. It looks like Jags stud LB Devin Lloyd will play, which green lights this Under for me. Grab 44.5 before this total drops.

Brock Bowers is an absolute stud and it appears that the star Tight End is finally healthy coming out of the Raiders BYE week. Bowers dealt with an early season injury that saw him come in and out of the Raiders lineup before eventually getting shut down. Pete Carroll has said Bowers is practicing at full speed and we’re getting a discount on a receiving line that was routinely in the mid 60s last season. Jacksonville has been a generous matchups to opposing Tight Ends, however Bowers at full strength is matchup proof.

The public perception is that the Jaguars are the much better team, thus laying 3.5 points on the road. The Raiders are ranked 21st in sack differential (-4) while the Jags are ranked 28th (-10). You can’t depend on past offensive statistics because injuries have hindered Las Vegas. The good news is that stud TE Brock Bowers and WR Jakobi Meyers are back in action. Las Vegas is ranked three spots higher in net yards per play, with a roster depleted in previous weeks. I like the Raiders on the money line, so getting 3.5 points seems like the right side. Per R.J. White, teams catching 3 or more at home after a bye are 14-5-1 ATS since 2020.

Both teams had the bye to reset and get healthy, and it was sorely needed for a Raiders team that couldn't move the ball with Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers before the bye. Both are expected to return here (unless Meyers is traded), and that should help the Raiders offense look much better in this matchup. The Jaguars have played just two road games all year, winning one by just five points thanks to a +4 turnover margin and a punt return TD. I'm happy to fade the Jaguars in this matchup at +3, but see if you can get a +3.5 before you jump on them.