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Our NFL betting writer brings you his best Raiders vs. Saints predictions and picks for their NFL Week 8 matchup, which is live Sunday on CBS at 1 p.m. EDT.

The Raiders (2-4) won for the second time in three games when they beat the visiting Texans 38-20 last Sunday. The Saints (2-5) lost for the fourth time in five games when they gave up 22 points during a stretch of 1:42 late in the second quarter of a 42-34 loss at Arizona on Oct. 20.

The Raiders are trending upward behind an offense that has been much improved over the last three games. They have averaged 33 points per game in that stretch, and their only loss was by one point at Kansas City.

The Saints also have averaged 33 points in their last three games, but they have lost twice in that span, partly because of red-zone failures and an inability to keep up with the scoring pace of the opposition.

The Las Vegas running game led by Josh Jacobs has been the key to the offensive surge in the last three games. For the season, Jacobs is averaging 5.7 yards per carry, and the running game’s success has made the Raiders’ play-action game more effective. Overall the Raiders are ninth in the NFL in total offense (367 yards per game).

The Saints also have been more productive offensively of late. They had 235 rushing yards and 228 rushing yards in consecutive games before slipping to 85 last week, partly because they faced a multiple-score deficit for most of the second half against the Cardinals. Turnovers have stymied scoring opportunities for the Saints and produced points for their opponents.

Moving the ball won’t be the issue, but the Raiders separate by making the most of scoring chances.

Pick: Raiders (-1.5) @ -120 at BetMGM

The only time the Raiders have failed to score 30 points in their last three games, they finished with 29. In each of their last three games, the Saints have given up at least 30 points.

That makes 30-plus points seem like a reasonable target for the Raiders.

The combination of Jacobs’ rushing and Derek Carr’s passing to Davante Adams against the Saints’ short-handed secondary (Marshon Lattimore, P.J. Williams, and Bradley Roby are injured) will enable to Raiders’ offense to keep rolling.

Pick: Raiders over 24.5 points @-120 at BetMGM

The Raiders’ defense and the Saints’ offense will also do their part to push the game total over.

Not only has the recent offensive success raised the Raiders to third in the NFL in points per game (27.2) and the Saints to seventh (25.0), but for the season the Saints are allowing the second-most points in the NFL (28.6) and the Raiders are allowing the 26^th most points (25.0).

Both teams should be able to move the ball and consistently put points on the board. This game will turn into a shoot-out, and the Raiders will prevail.

Pick: Raiders-Saints over 50 total points @ -120 at BetMGM

Odds courtesy of BetMGM. Correct at time of publishing and subject to change.