The Buffalo Bills (4-1) visit the Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) at Allegiant Stadium, kicking off at 4:25 PM ET Sunday, Oct 18, on CBS. The game opened with Las Vegas getting 6 on Oct 13 at 04:54 UTC. As of Oct 18 at 11:32 UTC the consensus was Raiders +5; by 18:44 UTC it was Bills −5.5, half a point from the opener. The number sits between the key numbers 3 and 7.
The total barely moved, from 53 (Oct 13, 05:36 UTC) to 53.5, the highest total in the late-afternoon window. No bets-versus-money split was published free.
The ratings see a much bigger gap than the market. Play-by-play efficiency has Buffalo at +5.4 and Las Vegas at −9.9. Even after 1.75 points of home field for the Raiders, the projection is Buffalo by 13.5, which is 8.0 points beyond the 5.5. The market move has gone the other way.
The injury picture is mostly uncertain on Buffalo's side. Receivers DJ Moore and Josh Palmer, defensive ends Ed Oliver and T.J. Sanders, and cornerback Dee Alford are all questionable. Las Vegas is without defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway, a trench starter whose play is still inside the season numbers, plus tight end Carter Runyon and receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr., with center Trey Zuhn III questionable. No starting quarterback is out, and no point figure was found for the other absences.
Buffalo, 2-0 on the road, has scored 164 points in five games, the most of any team in our data, and allowed 141. Las Vegas, 1-1 at home, has scored 132 and allowed 129. Both offenses can score, which is why the total is high. Here is how our five handicappers graded it.
Bills 34, Raiders 22. Bills cover the 5.5. Over 53.5.