15 dime - Raiders -2.5

As Chris Berman would say, I love "daaa Reyyduzz" in their Thursday night NFL Preseason opener against America's team. It's no secret that Oakland has been the laughingstock of the league the past four seasons and while that might not be motivation enough to back the silver and black tonight, it's surely a start. The past three preseasons, the Raiders are 5-1 SU and ATS at Oakland Coliseum and they've won their previous three NFLX openers. Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has stated on several occasions that he has no special game plan for Oakland and he's going to run "fairly basic" stuff tonight. What I take out of those comments is that Dallas really could care less about winning this game. Sure, Tony Romo and the first-team offense is supposedly playing the entire first quarter, but from there on out, the reins are being handed to two rookie quarterbacks in Rudy Carpenter and Stephen McGee. I love the opportunity for Oakland's defensive unit against two rookies that are making their NFL debuts so to speak. Oakland has far better reserves under center and after JaMarcus Russell departs mid-first half, the Raiders will have serviceable quarterbacks in Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye, both of whom are familiar with the style of play and have led NFL franchises in the past. I'm laying the chalk and rolling with Oakland.

10 dime - Marlins

With how well Florida has played at Land Shark Stadium the past week, you'd be crazy to go the other way on this game. The Fish have won 5 of 6 games at home including a three-game sweep of the Phillies (who just completed a sweep of the Cubs) and wins in the first two contests of this series against Houston. Astros' starter Mike Hampton is having another mediocre year, go figure, but it's been starts away from Texas that have been his downfall. Hampton is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA his last four road starts and in his last spot on the highway, the southpaw gave up nine runs in four innings against the Cubs on July 29. Yikes. Marlins' starter Sean West doesn't possess that better of numbers, although he's been adept at home as the Fish have won three of his last four home starts. The Fish undoubtedly play better ball in front of the home crowd and with a plethora of right-handed power hitters to face the lefty Hampton, I fully expect Hanley Ramirez and Co. to come out fired up and ready to clinch a series 'W.'