The Seattle Seahawks will chase preseason perfection this evening when they butt heads with a former division rival in the Oakland Raiders. Tonight’s meeting between the Seahawks and Raiders has a scheduled start time of 10:00pm ET at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. NFL Preseason Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks Odds are favoring Pete Carroll’s squad at -6.5 against the spread and -275 on the moneyline ($275 to win $100). The Over/Under in tonight’s game is set at 39.5 points.
Seattle took steps in the off-season to shore up the quarterback position and, if the team’s first three preseason games are any indication, it succeeded in its endeavor. The Seahawks were faced with an unexpected, but good dilemma when rookie third round pick Russell Wilson played so well that he began to challenge free agent signee Matt Flynn for the starting job.
As everyone now knows, Wilson ended the roster position standoff with Flynn last week with a scintillating performance against the Chiefs. Carroll gave Wilson the start against Kansas City to gauge how he would perform with and against first string players. Wilson provided an emphatic answer by completing 13-of-18 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns while leading the team on six consecutive scoring drives. The former Wisconsin Badger also rushed for 58 yards on two carries, turning broken plays into huge gains for Seattle.
With Flynn dealing with an elbow issue and Tarvaris Jackson now in Buffalo, Wilson should see plenty of time tonight against the Raiders, who recorded their first win of the preseason last week against the Lions.
Wilson will almost certainly garner more playing time than his counterpart, the Raiders Carson Palmer; however, to this point it is Palmer who looks like he needs more work under center. The former Heisman Trophy winner has thrown four interceptions and no touchdowns this preseason and he enters tonight’s game with a 43 passer rating.
One recent bright spot for Oakland is the play of third string quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Pryor is 13-of-23 for 196 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in three exhibition games; he also 112 rush yards and one score in 11 preseason carries.
Free Pick: Take the Seahawks -6.5 in tonight’s game.
NFL Preseason Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks Odds:
Oakland Raiders +6.5 (-110), Over 39.5 (-110), +230 (Moneyline)
Seattle Seahawks -6.5 (-110), Under 39.5 (-110), -275 (Moneyline)
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