Los Angeles Chargers (4-9) at Las Vegas Raiders (7-6)
The Los Angeles Chargers visit the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday night at 8:20 p.m. ET. Here’s our complete guide to Chargers Raiders Bet Tips. Odds and lines for Chargers-Raiders picks are from PointsBet, current as of Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Chargers Raiders Bet Tips
Chargers-Raiders Odds & Betting Lines
- Against The Spread: Raiders -3.5 (-110)/Chargers +3.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Raiders (-191)/Chargers (+160)
- Total: 53.5 — Over 53.5 (-115)/Under 53.5 (-105)
- Implied Team Totals: Raiders 28, Chargers 24.5
The Chargers have won two of their past four games, including a 20-17 victory over the Falcons last week. However, too little, too late. They are out of the running for AFC postseason considerations.
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The Chargers will look to play spoiler for their AFC West-rival Raiders, who still have playoff aspirations in mind despite their recent skid. The Raiders have lost three of their past four games and will look to remain in the Wild Card race with a home win Thursday night.
Chargers-Raiders Key Injuries
Chargers
The Chargers have four key offensive starters on the injury report ahead of Thursday night’s game at the Raiders. While RB Austin Ekeler (quad), WR Keenan Allen (hamstring), and TE Hunter Henry (hip) are all day-to-day with their respective injury, WR Mike Williams‘ (back) injury is considered more serious.
Ekeler, Allen, and Henry would all likely be good to go if this was a Sunday game. Because the Bolts are playing on a short week, their playing statuses are in question, but not in full-fledged doubt at the moment.
Williams, on the other hand, is the one to watch. Early reports are suggesting that he could be ruled out of Thursday night’s tilt with the Raiders. If Williams sits, Jaylen Guyton would see an uptick in opportunity share.
Raiders
In continued news that would impact Chargers-Raiders picks, Raiders RB Josh Jacobs remains day-to-day with his ankle injury suffered back in Week 12’s loss to the Falcons, forcing him to miss Week 13’s win against the Jets.
While Jacobs returned in last week’s loss to the Colts, he was game-scripted out of having a more-impactful showing. Indianapolis maintained control of the game from the start. Jacobs rushed 13 times for 49 yards and caught 3-of-5 targets for 23 yards on the day.
Facing a Chargers unit allowing the 12th-most rushing yards per game (120.0) this season, Jacobs should have a productive outing. In two career starts versus the Chargers, Jacobs has rushed for at least 65 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
Chargers Raiders Players to Watch
Raiders TE Darren Waller has been absolute money this season. While the Raiders employ wideouts that include Henry Ruggs, Nelson Agholor, and Hunter Renfrow, Waller is Las Vegas’ pseudo WR1.
In three of his past four games, Waller has managed 7+ receptions and 75+ yards while scoring once in two of those outings with three total touchdowns in that four-game period since Week 11. Waller has drawn 7+ targets in all four of those matchups as well, including two consecutive games with 10+ targets since Week 13.
While the Chargers are allowing the eighth-fewest receptions (52) and the fifth-fewest yards (521) to tight ends this season, they are surrendering the third-most touchdowns (9) to the position.
Back in Week 9’s meeting with Los Angeles, Waller caught 5-of-10 targets for 22 yards and a score.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen has been outstanding this season. As long as he remains healthy for the final three games — he has played in every game since Week 1 of 2017 — Allen is poised to set new career highs in targets, receptions, and touchdowns. He also has a shot to set a new career-best in yards as well, but it is a longshot while the others are near-locks.
Allen has drawn 10+ targets in 10-of-13 games this season and has scored at least one touchdown in six of his past seven games since Week 8.
Allen will get a terrific matchup with the Raiders on Thursday night, whose defense is yielding the eighth-most passing yards per game (256.1). Allen has accumulated eight receptions and 86 total yards or a touchdown in five of his past six games with the Raiders.
Chargers Raiders Weather Report
The weather at Allegiant Stadium will not impact the outcome of the game because it is a dome field.
Chargers-Raiders Picks & Bet Tips
BEST BET: Under 53.5 (-105)
Both the Raiders and Chargers can score points, but a 53.5-point total is a lot to ask for. Not only are both teams banged-up on offense, but the matchups between these two clubs normally trend toward the Under.
The Chargers’ offense was also hotter earlier in the year. They have scored fewer than 21 points in four of their last five games.
The Raiders, on the other hand, is where I worry. Following Sunday’s loss to the Colts, the Raiders fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther and promoted Rod Marinelli to interim DC. The change will either elevate the Las Vegas defense or further set them back.
The Under is 3-7 in the Chargers’ last 10 games, hitting in each of their past three.
The Under is 7-3 in the past 10 meetings between the Raiders and Chargers, but 1-2 in their past three, including hitting the Over in their Week 9 meeting.
This 53.5-point total is the highest in the past 10 meetings between these two clubs.
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CONSIDER: Raiders (-191)
With the Raiders giving 3.5 points, I like their Moneyline more. If they were ceding three points, I would be more apt to take the spread at better odds.
While the Chargers have been the better team in the past month, boasting a 2-2 record compared to the Raiders’1-3 mark in their past four games, Las Vegas is still fighting for a playoff spot while Los Angeles is playing spoiler. I’ll bet on Jon Gruden and the team that is more desperate in this one.
The Raiders are 6-4 in their past 10 meetings with the Chargers, victorious in each of their past three games against them.
CONSIDER/PASS: Raiders -3.5 (-110)
As I said above, I am not in love with the 3.5-point spread going in Los Angeles’ direction. I rather take the Raiders giving three if I can get it. In fact, If I had to wager against the spread on this game, I feel much safer taking the Chargers getting the points despite the fact that I like the Raiders to win outright.
The Raiders are 3-0 ATS in their past three meetings with the Chargers, but 4-6 overall in their past 10 games.
The Chargers are 1-6 ATS in their past seven games, finally covering last week, snapping a six-game slide.
The Raiders are 3-4 ATS in their past seven games but have not covered in each of their past three.
Anthony Cervino is 48-40-1 on his NFL Best Bets in 2020.
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