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Seahawks Look To Snap Modest Two-Game Skid

Bookmark and Share by Eric Williams

The Seattle Seahawks will be looking to snap their modest two-game preseason losing streak while covering the NFL Odds in the BetUS Football Sportsbook when they take on the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum tonight at 10:00 PM ET in the final tune-up game for each team.

Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Raiders
Live from Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA at 10:00 PM ET
TV: KING 5, KICU
Radio: Sirius 125 XM

NFL Betting Odds

Seattle Seahawks +3½ -110
Oakland Raiders -3½ -110
Over 37½ -110
Under 37½ -110

Moneyline
Seahawks +160
Raiders -190

Seattle Seahawks (1-2 SU, 0-3 ATS, 2-1 O/U)
The Seahawks are averaging 19.0 points per game this preseason while allowing 23.0 per game defensively and are coming off a 24-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.

Head coach Pete Carroll will almost certainly sit veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck after one or two series at the most (if he plays at all) before turning to backups Charlie Whitehurst and J.P. Losman.

Whitehurst has completed just 51 percent of his passes this preseason while tossing three touchdowns and four interceptions. Losman has thrown one interception and no touchdowns this preseason.

The main battles for the Seahawks will come at the running back position where Justin Forsett, Leon Washington and Julius Jones are all involved in a three-way battle for the starting position.

Unfortunately, none of the trio is averaging more than 3.5 yards per carry this preseason, though all have had less than 20 carries.

Oakland Raiders (2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS, 2-1 O/U)
The Raiders will be without starting quarterback Jason Campbell In this one as he recovers from a neck stinger he suffered in last week's 28-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Oakland head coach Tom Cable will decide on whether Kyle Boller or Bruce Gradkowski will be Campbell’s primary backup during the regular season with the other quarterback really reduced to third-string clipboard-holder status.

Boller has completed 63 percent of his passes this preseason while throwing for one touchdown and no picks.

Gradkowski, who led Oakland to a couple of fantastic wins late last season, is coming off a fine performance against the Niners after completing 14-of-22 passes for 202 yards with two TD strikes.

Analysis: The Raiders and Seahawks both have some issues heading into the regular season, but I believe Oakland has fewer than their counterparts in this matchup if you can believe it or not.

With Jason Campbell out and Matt Hasselbeck not playing very long at all, this final preseason contest – like every other – will come down to the play of each team’s reserve quarterbacks.

While Seattle has two solid quarterbacks in Charlie Whitehurst and J.P. Losman, I think Bruce Gradkowski and Kyle Boller are a bit better than their counterparts and will lead the raiders to the home win and narrow cover against the NFL game odds.

The Seahawks open their 2010 regular season schedule against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 12 while the Raiders open up against the Tennessee Titans on the same day.

Play the Raiders to cash in against the NFL Odds as a 3.5-point home favorite while the Over moves to 3-1 in the preseason for both ballclubs.

Expert NFL Pick: Raiders -3½ Points/Under 37½ Total Points

Sources: nfl.com, covers.com, wagertracker.com, the sportsnetwork.com