The Los Angeles Chargers try their luck in Las Vegas, visiting the Raiders at brand-new Allegiant Stadium for Thursday Night Football betting in Week 15.
The Chargers are attempting to do something they haven’t accomplished in more than a year: win back-to-back games. NFL odds have the Bolts installed as 3-point road underdogs versus Las Vegas, which has dropped three of its past four contests heading into this primetime matchup.
Here are our best NFL betting free picks and predictions for Chargers vs. Raiders on December 17.
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders Betting Preview
Weather
This game will be played indoors at Allegiant Stadium. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions for other Week 15 games with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Chargers: Nasir Adderley S (Out), Denzel Perryman LB (Out), Bryan Bulaga T (Out), Justin Jackson RB (Out).
Raiders: Clelin Ferrell DE (Out), Nicholas Morrow LB (Out), Johnathan Abram S (Out), Damon Arnette CB (Out).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Raiders are 6-0 ATS in their last six games versus the AFC West. Find more NFL betting trends for Chargers vs. Raiders.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
The last time Los Angeles strung two wins together was Week 9 of the 2019 season. So far this year, the Bolts have had only three previous chances to build momentum, falling flat in those spots and going 1-2 ATS when coming off a win.
Los Angeles squeaked out a 20-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, with the closing minutes of that matchup playing out like hand grenade ping pong. The historically snake-bitten teams traded turnovers three times before L.A. eventually kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired.
But while the win column now ticks up to four for the Chargers, that Week 14 victory was anything but pretty. Play calling, clock management and special teams continue to burn the Bolts and head coach Anthony Lynn is focused more on not leaving his resume in the photocopier than closing out a lost 2020 campaign.
Las Vegas, on the other hand, needs this game badly if it’s going to stay in the AFC postseason picture. The Raiders’ lone win over the past four games was the narrowest of escapes against the New York Jets, and that skid has cost defensive coordinator Paul Guenther his job. He was fired immediately following Las Vegas’ 44-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts last weekend.
The Raiders did get some positives (and not the bad kind that have plagued this roster during the pandemic) from that Week 14 beatdown, notably the return of RB Josh Jacobs and tackle Trent Brown. While the rushing attack was tempered due to Vegas having to play from behind most of the game, the Silver and Black hung tough with the Colts before buckling in the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles is among the worst rushing defenses in the NFL, giving up 4.6 yards per carry and ranks Bottom 5 in run stop DVOA at Football Outsiders. It allowed Las Vegas to rumble for 160 rushing yards on 26 attempts during a 31-26 home loss to its AFC West rivals back in Week 9—a game that looked all but won by the Chargers on a last-second TD catch that was ruled incomplete upon review.
Bolts backers are left to wonder what could have been if that Week 9 touchdown had stood. Instead, we’re staring down a Thursday night point spread no one really wants to bet, considering the teams involved. But since we have to make a pick, we’re leaning towards the Raiders, who have covered in six straight divisional matchups.
PREDICTION: Las Vegas -3 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
After giving up a total of 150 points over the past four games, someone’s head had to roll in Sin City. And since it wasn’t going to be that of head coach Jon Gruden, Guenther was the victim. His firing isn’t an instant fix and the Raiders will continue to give up gains, especially on the ground where they’ve been absolutely bullied in recent weeks.
Las Vegas has rolled out the red carpet for rival running backs, who are averaging 5.6 yards per carry over the last three contests. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor feasted on the Vegas front seven, rushing for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, including a 62-yard home run TD in the third quarter.
With both teams struggling to stop the run and the Bolts benefitting from the recent return of RB Austin Ekeler, who has 343 total yards of offense in his first three games back from a hamstring injury, this game could turn into a TOP (time of possession) battle. The Chargers did just that in the Week 9 matchup with Las Vegas, grinding out 128 yards on 31 handoffs for 34:44 of possession—all without Ekeler in the lineup.
This total opened at 55 points but is on the way down, sitting at 54.5 with early money on the Under. While the Chargers and Raiders did top the 52.5-point number in Week 9, they’ve stayed below the total in six of their last eight meetings.
PREDICTION: Under 54.5 (-110)
Player Prop Pick
As mentioned above, Ekeler has added a valuable wrinkle to this playbook since returning, giving rookie QB Justin Herbert a reliable relief valve on the ground and in the short passing game.
Ekeler has been targeted 34 times in the past three outings, catching 24 of those balls for a grand total of 184 yards receiving. Las Vegas has had a tough time with pass-catching running backs this year, giving up 557 total yards receiving—eighth-most in the NFL.
While he missed the November 8 meeting with the Raiders, Ekeler had five grabs for 58 yards versus then-Oakland back in December 2019. We like him to continue doing damage through the air in Week 15.
PREDICTION: Austin Ekeler Over 37.5 receiving yards (-117)
Chargers vs Raiders Betting Card
- Las Vegas -3 (-110)
- Under 54.5 (-110)
- Austin Ekeler Over 37.5 receiving yards (-117)
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