Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers (9/11/2022): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, and Prediction

The Las Vegas Raiders will travel to Sofi stadium to face off against the Los Angeles Chargers in a battle of AFC West divisional rivals on Sunday. The last time these two teams met saw a controversial finish in which Chargers’ head coach Brandon Staley took an ill-timed timeout which led to one last Raiders’ play that vanquished the Chargers from the 2021 postseason. This time around though, things are different for both teams in big ways. Let’s get into it. 

Las Vegas Raiders Vs. Los Angeles Chargers Betting Odds

The Los Angeles Chargers are -3.5 road favorites against the +3.5 Las Vegas Raiders. On the moneyline, the Chargers are -180 home favorites while the Raiders are +160 road underdogs. The total of the game is set at 52. To better understand: if you were to place a $100 wager on the Raiders, you would yield $160 in profit. If you were to wager $100 on the Chargers -3.5, the Chargers would have to win by four or more points.

Las Vegas Raiders Vs. Los Angeles Chargers Prediction

These two teams were arguably the stars of this years’ offseason. Knowing that Justin Herbert is truly a special quarterback, Chargers’ general manager Tom Telesco didn’t waste any time attempting to build a contender around the young quarterback as he enters his third year. The Chargers kicked off free agency by trading for Chicago Bears’ All-Pro OLB Khalil Mack who will now line up opposite Pro-bowler Joey Bosa, forming one of the best defensive lines in the league. The team then re-signed star wideout Mike Williams and signed one of the best pass-defenders in DB JC Jackson from the New England Patriots. 

Checking out the Las Vegas Raiders, new head coach and offensive-guru Josh McDaniels has a lot of weapons at his disposal and he’ll be tasked with getting the most out of quarterback Derek Carr. Signing perhaps the league’s best wideout in former Packer Devante Adams in free agency, the team also bolstered the offensive line with the addition of Dylan Parham. While the Raiders’ defense is still a big question mark, the signing of DE All-Pro Chandler Jones has (also) formed one of the league’s best defensive lines, as Jones now lines up opposite fellow All-Pro DE Max Crosby. 

Josh McDaniels hasn’t coached a game as a head coach since 2010. That being said, McDaniels has been apart of perhaps the best offensive system in NFL history with the Patriots for the better part of the last decade. While Staley was once praised for his aggressive coaching style, his decision-making is now ultimately under the microscope after his aforementioned timeout against the Raiders last season. Expect the Chargers to come out with a chip on their shoulder and Staley to double-down on his aggressive style in an effort to get out to an early lead. Don’t think the Raiders will just sit back though, as McDaniels will look to get the ball spread out amongst the plethora of Raiders’ weapons in Adams, TE Darren Waller, WR Hunter Renfrow, and RB Josh Jacobs. With these two teams playing it close in their last few matchups, I will defer from making a point-spread pick and will bet on the safer play of the over.
Prediction: Over 52.5 points.

Betting Trends

-Raiders are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 1
-Over is 7-1 in Raiders last 8 games in September
-Over is 6-0 in Chargers last 6 games overall
-Raiders are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 meetings in Los Angeles

Key Injuries

Chargers: CB JC Jackson, CB Tevaughn Campbell, Drue Tranquill

Raiders: LB Divine Deablo

Key Matchup

Check out the key matchups and mismatches for Raiders vs Chargers below.

Justin Herbert versus the Raiders’ secondary

For as great an offseason as the Raiders had, the team seems to have an inability to find a solution to its perpetual cornerback problem. Whether it’s missing on first round draft picks or failing to acquire solid free agent talent, the Raiders’ corners are perhaps the weakest part of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s unit. With former starters Casey Hayward and Trayvon Mullen being shipped out, 2021 fifth-round pick Nate Hobbs – who had a great first season – and relative unknown third-year player Rock Ya-Sin have the tough task of trying to stop Justin Herbert from connecting with wideouts Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and even running back Austin Ekeler this week. With 38 touchdowns last season, putting money on Herbert’s over on passing yards and touchdowns is a great player prop to keep an eye out as we get closer to game-time. Expect Herbert to torch this secondary.

Las Vegas Raiders Depth Chart

QB: Derek Carr
RB1: Josh Jacobs
RB2: Brandon Bolden
LWR: Devante Adams
RWR: Hunter Renfrow
SWR: Mack Hollins
TE1: Darren Waller

Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart

QB: Justin Herbert
RB1: Austin Ekeler
RB2: Joshua Kelley
LWR: Mike Williams
RWR: Keenan Allen
SWR: Joshua Palmer
TE1: Gerald Everett