The Los Angeles Chargers (+3) aren’t traveling far to face their AFC West counterpart Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum. This Thursday showdown is going to be televised across the country on FOX and the opening kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.
Thursday Night FootballBetting Preview: Oakland Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles is the road underdog in this AFC game and is currently getting 3 points. The Chargers are also receiving +120 moneyline odds while the Raiders are -140. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 47.5 points. On the surface it appears that this game ought to present some live betting opportunities.
The disappointing Chargers are 3-4-1 against the spread (ATS) and are down 4.4 units this season. They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 2-6.
The Raiders have gained 1.5 units this year. The team is 4-3 ATS and has an O/U record of 4-3.
The Chargers have gone 4-5 straight up (SU), including 0-1 SU against AFC West opponents. The Raiders are 4-4 SU overall and 1-1 SU versus divisional foes.
The Chargers are trying to keep things going following a solid 26-11 win over Green Bay in Week 9 where Philip Rivers completed 21 passes on 28 attempts for 294 yards. Melvin Gordon III (80 rushing yards on 20 attempts, two TDs) and Austin Ekeler (70 yards on 12 carries) led the running attack in the win while Hunter Henry (seven receptions, 84 yards) and Ekeler (four catches, 23 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Oakland is coming off of a 31-24 win over Detroit a week ago. The team’s defensive secondary allowed the Lions to air it out for 406 yards and three touchdowns. Kenny Golladay was a bright spot in the defeat for Detroit, accounting for 132 yards on four catches. For Oakland, Derek Carr completed 20-of-31 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Jacobs (120 yards on 28 rush attempts, two TDs) spearheaded the ground game in the win while Hunter Renfrow (six receptions, 54 yards, one TD) and Tyrell Williams (three catches, 48 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Los Angeles has run the ball on 37.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Oakland has an overall rush percentage of 47.4 percent. The Chargers have produced 79.4 rush yards/game (including 35 per game versus West opponents) and have six touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Raiders are totaling 136.4 rush yards per game (113.5 in conference) and have eight total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Raiders could hold an edge in terms of effectiveness in the ground game. Their running backs has logged 4.8 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 3.7 to opponents. The Chargers have registered 3.6 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.2 to opponents.
The Bolts offense has tallied 290.7 yards per contest in the air overall (211 per game versus conference opposition) and has 12 passing scores so far. The Raiders have recorded 252.5 pass yards per outing (229 in the AFC) and have 14 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Los Angeles seems to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed 114.1 rush yards and 224.1 pass yards per game. The Oakland defense has allowed 311.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 92.5 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bolts are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.61 to opponents, while the Raiders have given up an ugly 8.86 ANY/A.
Offensively, Rivers has amassed 2,408 passing yards this season. He’s connected on 204-of-304 attempts with 11 passing scores and six interceptions. Rivers has a 7.15 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.55 over the last two games.
In the hosts’ locker room, Derek Carr has managed to complete 160-of-220 passes for 1,699 yards, 10 TDs and four INTs. Carr’s ANY/A sits at 7.25 for the year and 10.71 over his past two games.
Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Raiders Free Prediction
SU Winner: Chargers, ATS Winner: Chargers, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Chargers offense has recorded six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Raiders have accounted for four such plays.
- The Los Angeles defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Oakland has given up 10 such plays.
- The Los Angeles offense has created two rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Oakland has created seven such runs.
- The Chargers defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Raiders have given up four such runs.
- The Los Angeles D has 21 sacks on the year while Oakland has just 15.
- Los Angeles, as a team, has produced 3.3 yards per carry across its last three games and 3.9 over its last two.
- Oakland has averaged 4.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.5 over its last two.
