in NFL Articles

The sports betting odds on conference champions and each of the NFL's eight divisions. In one of those divisions, the AFC West, the Oakland Raiders are hoping that some new additions to their offensive lineup are going to bear fruit this year. Can Al Davis return to the winner's circle? We'll delve into that today.

First we list Sportsbook:

BetUS NFL Futures Odds

To Win AFC West

 -300

 +400

 +550

 +750

To win the AFC Championship

+175

+450

+500

+900

+1200

+1600

+2000

+2000

+2200

+2500

+3000

+4500

+6000

+6600

+6600

+6000

Jamarcus Russell was drafted first overall by Oakland last year, and missed all of training camp, stalling his progress. But it wasn't until the final week of the season that he got his first start. It was in the interests of the Raiders, who weren't going anywhere, to throw him in to see what he was capable of. That leads me to believe he must have had a very difficult time grasping an NFL offense. Let's see if this rocket-armed sophomore, who was known to make very poor decisions from time to time at LSU, can handle the mental aspect of quarterbacking an NFL team.

He will get help from his running game, that's for sure. The Raiders were ranked sixth in the league in rushing, and return Justin Fargas, the former Notre Dame back who ran for 1009 yards last season. Oakland may also have the availability of Michael Bush, who, if you recall, was touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate a couple of years ago at Louisville before breaking his leg and missing most of the past couple of seasons.

But the biggest news in the Bay Area is the arrival of Darren McFadden, the Heisman runner-up the last two years, who may bring to Oakland the same impact Adrian Peterson brought to Minnesota last year. McFadden is a competitor, and one of the most explosive talents to come into the NFL in quite some time. He's a prime rookie of the year contender and will have an opportunity to win the #1 runningback job from Fargas in camp.

The receiving corps has been thin, but Davis tried to bolster it by making deals to bring aboard Javon Walker and Drew Carter through free agency. But those guys, not to mention Ronald Curry, the top holdover, are not without question marks. Tight end Zach Miller, who caught 44 passes in his rookie season, might be counted on even more this season.

Defensively, Davis retained coordinator Rob Ryan over head coach Lane Kiffin's mild objection, then proceeded to add some meaningful parts. DeAngelo Hall, a Pro Bowl cornerback, came in a trade from Atlanta, and he teams with Nnamdi Asomugha to give Oakland one of the league; best combos at that position. Safety Gibril Wilson came over from the Giants as a free agent; he'll join Michael Huff and a corps of linebackers who excel in covering the pass. Tommy Kelly, recipient of a seven-year, $50.5 million contract, will be asked to replace Warren Sapp at one of the defensive tackle positions. Kelly had better come through, because only one team was worse at stopping the run last year than the Raiders.

Oakland has certainly added some useful players. And McFadden may wind up being a sensation. But they may have made a mistake with Russell last season, in not letting him get his feet wet a little more. That will have its effect, as the Raiders will go through the year with what is essentially a rookie quarterback. They'll battle it out with Kansas City to see who can escape the AFC West cellar.

JAY'S PREDICTION FOR 2008:

Oakland Raiders -- 5-11, Tie-3rd, AFC West

(+750 to win division, +6000 to win AFC, +10000 to win Super Bowl in the BetUS Super Bowl betting odds)

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The 2008 and beyond!

(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com is a member of the NFL too - that is, "not for long" if you don't get results. He is now a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)