LAS VEGAS - The Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans have been pro football?s two hottest teams.
But, in the minds of oddsmakers at Las Vegas Sports Consultants, there is no question which team is superior. The company sent out Oakland as an eight-point home favorite in the AFC championship game.
"It was a simple line to make," said Cesar Robaina, odds manager for LVSC. "It had to be over seven. We tried to emphasize it by putting up an eight."
By Monday morning the line was Raiders minus 7 ?, with the total at 47. Oakland has won eight of its last nine, going 7-2 against the spread. The Raiders have won every game by at least six points, including defeating these same Titans, 52-25, on Sept. 29.
However, the Titans have lost just once their past 12 games, and that was by one point to Baltimore. They are 9-3 against the spread in those games and are the league?s lone unbeaten team since December.
Yet, the line is more than a touchdown.
"I know Tennessee is red hot, too, but it's hard to get overly excited about the Titans," Robaina said. "They do it almost with mirrors and they're banged up.
"I think Eddie George is shot, but the public doesn't feel that way. (Steve) McNair's hand was bugging him. Injuries don't seem to keep him out of games, but they don't seem to heal real quickly either.
"When you put it all in the mix, we thought we'd stay high with the Raiders. The team has been unstoppable, and they buried Tennessee earlier this season."
LVSC opened Philadelphia minus four in its NFC title matchup against Tampa Bay, with an 'over/under' of 35 1/2. By Monday morning, the line had settled in at Eagles minus 3 1/2 with the total down to 34.
"I don't think it's a good matchup for Tampa," Robaina said. "Philly is going to be blitzing and its cornerbacks are going to be right up on Tampa Bay's wide receivers.
"Tampa's game is passing. The Bucs have tall wide receivers. But Philadelphia has big cornerbacks, and it's not like Tampa Bay has speed receivers who can blow by them.
"So I really think it's a tough spot. I think Tampa's only shot is if Mike Alstott can have a big game running the ball."
Robaina also factored in Tampa Bay's poor history at Philadelphia, as well as playing in bad weather. The Bucs have lost to the Eagles at Veterans Stadium in the playoffs each of the past two years by a combined margin of 62-12.
Until defeating the Chicago Bears in the final regular season game, the Bucs were 0-21 when the temperature dipped below 40. The Bucs did not score a touchdown against the lowly Bears, who played third-string Henry Burris at quarterback.
But, in the minds of oddsmakers at Las Vegas Sports Consultants, there is no question which team is superior. The company sent out Oakland as an eight-point home favorite in the AFC championship game.
"It was a simple line to make," said Cesar Robaina, odds manager for LVSC. "It had to be over seven. We tried to emphasize it by putting up an eight."
By Monday morning the line was Raiders minus 7 ?, with the total at 47. Oakland has won eight of its last nine, going 7-2 against the spread. The Raiders have won every game by at least six points, including defeating these same Titans, 52-25, on Sept. 29.
However, the Titans have lost just once their past 12 games, and that was by one point to Baltimore. They are 9-3 against the spread in those games and are the league?s lone unbeaten team since December.
Yet, the line is more than a touchdown.
"I know Tennessee is red hot, too, but it's hard to get overly excited about the Titans," Robaina said. "They do it almost with mirrors and they're banged up.
"I think Eddie George is shot, but the public doesn't feel that way. (Steve) McNair's hand was bugging him. Injuries don't seem to keep him out of games, but they don't seem to heal real quickly either.
"When you put it all in the mix, we thought we'd stay high with the Raiders. The team has been unstoppable, and they buried Tennessee earlier this season."
LVSC opened Philadelphia minus four in its NFC title matchup against Tampa Bay, with an 'over/under' of 35 1/2. By Monday morning, the line had settled in at Eagles minus 3 1/2 with the total down to 34.
"I don't think it's a good matchup for Tampa," Robaina said. "Philly is going to be blitzing and its cornerbacks are going to be right up on Tampa Bay's wide receivers.
"Tampa's game is passing. The Bucs have tall wide receivers. But Philadelphia has big cornerbacks, and it's not like Tampa Bay has speed receivers who can blow by them.
"So I really think it's a tough spot. I think Tampa's only shot is if Mike Alstott can have a big game running the ball."
Robaina also factored in Tampa Bay's poor history at Philadelphia, as well as playing in bad weather. The Bucs have lost to the Eagles at Veterans Stadium in the playoffs each of the past two years by a combined margin of 62-12.
Until defeating the Chicago Bears in the final regular season game, the Bucs were 0-21 when the temperature dipped below 40. The Bucs did not score a touchdown against the lowly Bears, who played third-string Henry Burris at quarterback.
