Seahawks open as home favorites versus the Raiders in Week 12

When the schedule first came out, the team from Oakland that now calls Las Vegas home was favored by a field goal.

Now, after surpassing their expected win total before their bye, it’s the team from the Emerald City that’s favored … by a little more than a field goal.

If you’re the type that believes home field is worth 3 points, Sunday’s matchup between the 6-4 Seattle Seahawks and the 3-7 Las Vegas Raiders would have you looking for a coin to flip if the game were on a neutral field.

Fortunately for the Seahawks, the game is at Lumen Field.

And, after having had almost a full month to rest their voices, the 12s who are in attendance at Sunday’s game ought to be loud enough to break the NFL’s decibel meter.

Set Number: X156925 TK1 R3 F119

I’m not talking about during the game though.

I’m talking about before the game, when the 12s give the Raiders (+155) a raucous THANK YOU for having just handed Denver their 7th loss and (potentially) giving the Seahawks (-180) a top-5 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in the process.

Let’s not look ahead too far though.

Offensively, the Raiders average 10 less yards a game than the Seahawks do (352.1 vs. 342.3) and 3 fewer points (25.7 vs. 22.5).

Defensively, it’s a virtual dead heat.

• Yards allowed per game: Seattle 370.0; Las Vegas 370.5
• Points allowed per game: Seattle 24.1; Las Vegas 24.2

Note: This is the part where I mention that the Over/Under is 47.5 points and that it’s one of the highest Over/Unders of Week 12 (only Bills-v-Lions and Bears-v-Jets are higher).

For those who are thinking that the Seahawks will be well-rested since they had their bye in Week 11 while the Raiders went to overtime against the Broncos …

You’re right, the Seahawks will be well-rested.

However …

The Seahawks have only won 7 of the 12 games after their bye weeks under Peter Carroll, including the 37-34 overtime loss to the Cardinals in 2020 and the shutout in Green Bay last season.

That said, the Raiders haven’t won in Seattle in nearly a quarter century with their last Emerald City W coming on November 1st, 1998.

Fun Fact: The winning quarterback that day was a guy named Donald Hollas who had 237 yards passing … with only 12 completions.

Photo credit should read DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images

Bottom Line: On paper, Seattle is arguably the better team. Record-wise, Seattle is clearly the better team. From a coaching standpoint, Seattle is unquestionably the better team.

Yet DraftKings Sportsbook has the opening line at a mere 3-1/2 points and I’m sort of wondering if Seattle will cover.