It’s just about time to start the 2023 NFL season, but first, the Chargers and 49ers will have one more crack at tuning up their players ahead of Week 1. San Francisco’s intriguing position battle at quarterback may be over, but their No. 3 signal-caller still has plenty to prove here in the team’s preseason finale, and on the other side, L.A. would like to rebound from a disappointing loss last week.
Let’s break it all down in our Chargers vs. 49ers preview and prediction.
Chargers vs 49ers Odds
NFL odds used for this Indianapolis vs Buffalo preview were found at FanDuel Sportsbook and are current as of August 10th and 5:00 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: 49ers (-360) • Chargers (+290)
- Spread: 49ers -7.5 (-110) • Chargers +7.5 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 37.5 (-110) • Under 37.5 (-110)
- Implied Score: 49ers 22.5, Chargers 15
Chargers vs 49ers Predictions
Score Pick: 49ers 28, Chargers 24
Both of these teams have allowed at least 55 points through two games, and that was with some impressive performances in the secondary by some players who may wind up cracking the opening-day roster. There’s no reason to suggest this will be low-scoring, particularly with a competent quarterback like Trey Lance on the field for most of the proceedings.
San Francisco has more depth and deserves to be favored here, but L.A. should find a way through a defense that allowed Jarrett Stidham to complete 71% of his passes last week for 130 yards, which allowed 6.6 yards per carry on the ground.
Chargers vs 49ers Best Bets & Props
Over 37.5 (-110)
FanDuel Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
The 49ers may have allowed 6.6 yards per attempt on the ground last week, but the Chargers topped that by going for a whopping 6.9 per carry in a Preseason Week 1 win over the Rams. They followed that up with 5.5 yards per carry against a solid Saints defense, and offensive guard Zion Johnson earned praise from PFF for his performance with the starters, who looked fantastic in blocking for NFL-caliber ball carriers.
I’m a little skeptical of Easton Stick here after he struggled to a 48.1 passer rating last week, and before that, he looked uninspired in a blowout win over the Rams. For that reason, I like the Over a bit better than the points with the Chargers.
Trey Lance may have lost out to Sam Darnold for the backup quarterback job, but he should have more to play for here than anyone, considering he’s still trying to convince the 49ers that he has a future with the team.
Lance is coming off a decent game, which saw him post a 93 passer rating and is one of the top talents at QB this week, with the majority of starters at the position either sitting or playing a few series. This game will feature a ton of Lance, so it should feature a ton of scoring from San Francisco against a defense that’s struggled this preseason.
Chargers +7.5 (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
There are very few lines offered on this game, so in addition to the Over, I’ll also play the Chargers. San Francisco has yet to produce an interception through two weeks against Stidham and Aidan O’Connell, which is great news considering Stick is coming off of a two-interception game versus New Orleans.
The turnovers are certainly a reason I’m concerned for the Chargers, and another reason would be the five sacks that this line surrendered last week. San Francisco has recorded just three all preseason and looks like a lackluster unit without so many important players. Therefore, Stick should be able to look competent at the very least and keep pace with Lance here. Trust that both of these defenses are equally incompetent in this state.
Chargers vs 49ers Same Game Parlay
Chargers vs 49ers SGP (+264)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit(s)
- Over 37.5 (-110)
- Chargers +7.5 (-110)
Both of these bets should work in conjunction with one another. Should the game be high-scoring with both defenses continuing to struggle, both offenses should be in a great position to keep up with one another.
Stick’s dual-threat ability should make him a nightmare for a 49ers front seven that struggled to contain Stidham and Russell Wilson on the ground earlier this preseason, and the lack of sacks it’s produced should create even more of a dilemma. L.A. should hang here, and I’d expect by kickoff, this total will jump up a hair.
