The Denver Broncos kick off the 2023 NFL regular season by hosting their AFC West rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders.
Denver looks forward to beginning a new era under Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean Payton, who signed with the team during the offseason. The Broncos finished last in the AFC West just a season ago under former head coach Nathaniel Hackett.
Las Vegas finished just one game better than Denver in 2022. Despite a 6-11 record, head coach Josh McDaniels is back for Year 2 at the helm in the desert and has a new but familiar face at quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo. The Raiders swept the season series from the Broncos last season.
Both squads have much elevated expectations heading into the 2023 season, and this Week 1 matchup will be a good litmus test to see how far they have progressed.
Raiders vs Broncos Odds
NFL odds used for this Las Vegas vs Denver preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook and are current as of Friday, Aug. 18, at 2 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Broncos (-192) • Raiders (+160)
- Spread: Favorite -4 (-108) • Raiders +4 (-112)
- Total Points: Over 44.5 (-108) • Under 44.5 (-112)
- Implied Score: Favorite 24.25, Underdog 20.25
Raiders vs Broncos Predictions
Score Pick: Broncos 23, Raiders 20
I’m giving the home team a slight edge in the first of two matchups between these squads. Both teams have had strong training camps and should be much more competitive than they were last season.
Apart from Denver looking much stronger offensively, Las Vegas will also be at the disadvantage of playing in the difficult climate of Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos are expecting a resurgent season out of star quarterback Russell Wilson, who was a disappointment in his debut campaign in Denver a year ago.
Wilson and the offense will be up against what could be a bottom-half defense again this season. A year ago, Vegas forced the fewest turnovers and finished 26th in yards per game allowed.
The defensive side of the ball was therefore a big point of emphasis for the Raiders during free agency. Even so, Denver’s talented array of skill players should have a chance to exploit a secondary which allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game last season.
On the other side, a veteran like Garoppolo should be able to develop chemistry with a talented pass-catching corps. The 31-year-old quarterback will be returning to the field after suffering a season-ending foot injury last December with the 49ers.
However, it’s still unclear who’ll line up in the backfield behind him come Week 1. Star running back Josh Jacobs made headlines this summer when he decided to hold out after not receiving a contract offer to his liking.
Additionally, star receiver Davante Adams suffered an apparent leg injury during training camp, although he should be ready for this season-opening matchup.
The Raiders will likely be a team that improves as the year progresses, but as far as Week 1 goes, you have to side with a Denver team that simply has more available playmakers.
Raiders vs Broncos Best Bets & Props
Raiders +4 (-112)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
After how abysmal Denver looked last season, it’s hard to imagine this team blowing out any opponent it faces. The Raiders are oozing talent on the offensive side and should keep this game much closer than some might expect.
Even with Jacobs unlikely to suit up any time soon, I’m choosing the Raiders to cover the spread ever so slightly for my NFL bet of the day.
Broncos To Win By 1-6 (+295)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Taking Denver to win by a 1-6 margin is a solid play that gets you positive odds on an expected scenario. While this bet leaves room for error, based on the current spread as well as analysis of both teams, Las Vegas keeping any loss to six points or less is plausible.
Under 44.5 (-112)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Denver ranked dead last in points scored last season. The Raiders had several high-scoring games but also found themselves lacking offensively at times.
Overall, the Over was just a combined 14-19-1 in the two teams’ 34 total games.
While both squads made big changes on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, the Raiders’ developments have been more about addition than subtraction. In addition to Jacobs’ projected absence, star tight end Darren Waller was traded to the Giants.
It’s difficult to envision an outright shootout during the first week of the season, especially with one team fielding a new quarterback and the other adapting to a new offensive system. Although a last-minute return by Jacobs could change things, for now, I like the Under to hit.
Raiders vs Broncos Same Game Parlay
Raider vs Broncos SGP (+187)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
- Under 44.5 (-112)
- Broncos (-192)
Pairing together the Under alongside Denver as the outright winner is a solid SGP option with positive odds to more than double your investment.
We discussed why both of these legs are likely to hit, and getting plus-money on a bet that includes a solid favorite is always appealing.
