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Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Predictions, Odds, Picks

Kevin Rogers
Kevin Rogers Sports Betting Expert
7 minute read
Jan. 9, 2022
Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Los Angeles Chargers (9-7) travel to meet the Las Vegas Raiders (9-7) for a Week 18 battle at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for Sunday Night Football. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on NBC.

Score Prediction

Chargers 27, Raiders 24

Best Bets

Chargers -155 ML at DraftKings

Over 48.5 (-110) at Draft365

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Predictions

Depending on the results earlier in the day, this AFC West battle in Vegas could very turn out to be a winner-take-all game for a final playoff spot in the AFC. If the Jacksonville Jaguars upend the Indianapolis Colts, and the Baltimore Ravens top the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the day, then both the Chargers and Raiders would be in. If the Colts and Steelers each win, then the Raiders would need to win to get in. Either way you slice it, the SNF game is going to be exciting and important.

The Chargers doubled up the Raiders 28-14 back in Week 4 as three-point favorites as the UNDER connected. Los Angeles has played themselves into this dire spot with costly losses down the stretch at Denver and at Houston, two games they probably should've been able to win. They didn't, and now they're here. They did get some revenge last week with a 34-13 victory over the Broncos last week as an 8.5-point favorite.

The Raiders have played themselves into this win-and-in scenario, defying the odds with three straight victories in Cleveland, against Denver and at Indianapolis in the past three weekends. Vegas has had the benefit of some COVID shortages for their opponents, but they have also played some good, sound defensive football with opportunistic offense. This is going to be a nip-and-tuck game which comes down to the very end.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Betting Odds

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Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Betting Resources

  • Matchup: AFC West
  • Date: Sunday, January 9, 2022
  • Venue: Allegiant Stadium
  • Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
  • TV-Time: NBC - 8:20 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Chargers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 9-7
  • ATS: 8-8
  • O/U: 9-7
  • ATS - Away: 4-3

The Chargers snapped a two-game losing skid and 0-2 cover stretch with a sound 34-13 win against the Broncos last time out as the OVER hit. The Chargers are just 4-7 ATS across the past 11 games overall, while the OVER has hit in five in a row.

The 5-0 OVER run is a product of outstanding offense, as the Bolts have posted 34, 29, 28, 37 and 41 during the five-game stretch, while allowing 13, 41, 34, 21 and 22. The Chargers defense has been a major reason for their mediocre run of late, allowing 136.7 rushing yards per game to rank 30th, while coughing up 26.5 PPG to check in 26th in the NFL. The offense has been red-hot, and the defense has been ice cold. That's usually not a good recipe for a deep playoff run.

The Chargers are 2-6 ATS in the past eight against AFC teams, but they're 6-2 ATS in the past eight against divisional foes. When L.A. plays into January it's usually pretty successful against the number, going 7-2-1 ATS in the past 10 in January.

Las Vegas Raiders Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 9-7
  • ATS: 7-9
  • O/U: 7-9
  • ATS - Home: 3-5

The Silver and Black have racked up three straight wins after a blowout loss at Kansas City in Week 14, while covering each of the past two. The Raiders haven't had a cover streak of three or more games since going 4-0 ATS from Nov. 1-22, 2020, including a win over the Chargers.

For Vegas, they were slinging it all over the field under former coach Jon Gruden, but interim head coach Rich Bisaccia has put a much different stamp on this team since taking over Oct. 17. The Raiders have become more of a run-first, defensive-minded team. They have posted 23, 17, 16, 9 and 15 across the past five, while going for 17 or fewer points in seven of the past nine outings. Defensively, they're allowed just 15.7 PPG across the past three games, and it's no surprise the UNDER is 3-0 during that run.

The Raiders are 2-5 ATS in the past seven AFC West Division games, while going 2-5 ATS in the past seven at home. The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five for the Raiders, although the OVER is 6-2 in the past eight vs. AFC West foes. The OVER is also 11-2-1 in the past 14 as a home underdog, while going 13-6-1 in the past 20 overall as a 'dog.


The Raiders are just 1-5 ATS in their past six at home against the Chargers in Oakland or Las Vegas.(AP)

Inside the Stats - Los Angeles Chargers

  • Record: 9-7
  • Division Standing: 3-2
  • Points Scored: 442
  • Points Allowed: 424
  • PS/G: 27.6
  • PA/G: 26.5

Inside the Stats - Las Vegas Raiders

  • Record: 9-7
  • Division Standing: 2-3
  • Points Scored: 339
  • Points Allowed: 407
  • PS/G: 21.2
  • PA/G: 25.4

Key Players to Watch

  • LAC: Austin Ekeler - RB (255 touches, 1,459 total yards, 18 total TDs)
  • LAC: Justin Herbert - QB (409/608, 4,631 yards, 35 TD, 14 INT)
  • LVR: Derek Carr - QB (408/590, 4,618 yards, 21 TD, 14 INT)
  • LVR: Hunter Renfrow - WR (99 catches, 1,025 yards, 7 TD)

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Betting Conclusion

The Chargers have dominated this series lately, at least against the number, going 5-1 ATS in the past six visits to Oakland and Las Vegas. The road team is also 10-4 ATS in the previous 14 meetings in this series, with the UNDER going 7-3 in the past 10 meetings. As such, there are a lot of good reasons why the books have the Bolts installed as a favorite on the road in a coin-flip game. I want to like the Chargers, and their offense is outstanding. But their inability to stop the run has me worried about RB Josh Jacobs and the run game for the Raiders.

I think we're going to get a one-possession game, and we're likely going to get a higher-scoring game after a little bit of nerves early on with a slow start. It's been a while since we've had such a meaningful Chargers-Raiders game, but this might really rekindle this rivalry if the winner gets into the playoffs, and the loser goes home. It's going to be a fun one.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Betting Trends

  • The Chargers are 6-2 ATS in the past eight vs. AFC West teams.
  • The Chargers are 2-6 ATS in the past eight vs. AFC teams.
  • The Raiders are 2-5 ATS in the past seven vs. AFC West teams.
  • The Raiders are 2-5 ATS in the past seven home games.
  • The OVER is 5-0 in the past five games for the Chargers.
  • The OVER is 4-1 in the past five games for the Chargers vs. favorites.
  • The OVER is 13-6 in the past 19 road games for the Chargers.
  • The OVER is 4-1 in the past five against winning teams for the Chargers.
  • The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five games for the Raiders.
  • The OVER is 6-2 in the past eight vs. AFC teams for the Raiders.
  • The OVER is 11-2-1 in the past 14 games as a home 'dog for the Raiders.
  • The Chargers are 5-1 ATS in the past eight road games vs. Raiders.
  • The road team is 10-4 ATS in the past 14 meetings.
  • The underdog is 18-7 ATS in the past 25 meetings.
  • The UNDER is 7-3 in the past 10 meetings.

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Kevin Rogers

Kevin Rogers

Kevin has been handicapping professionally since 2007 at VegasInsider before shifting to ScoresAndOdds. He focuses on MLB, NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball, and NHL and mainly uses trends, systems, and situations as his top handicapping angles. More from Kevin Rogers
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