Best Bet: Chargers Over 9.5 Wins (-135)
Worst Bet: Chargers to Win the Super Bowl (+1600)
The Chargers are coming off a strong season as they were able to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2013, ultimately coming up short in the divisional round against the eventual Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. The Chargers were able to win 12 games last season thanks to strong performances from both their offense and defense. Anthony Lynn has posted two positive records in his first two seasons, just missing out on the playoffs in his first year. Philip Rivers returns once again at quarterback and will look to follow up on a 4,308-yard passing season with another strong performance in 2019. The real question for this team is can the Chargers stay healthy?
Injuries were yet again a major issue late in the season in 2018 as the Chargers had health issues befall them late in the year, with their entire linebacking corp getting decimated. Melvin Gordon was the lead rusher for the Chargers last season, but he was plagued by injury as well for much of the season, which resulted in him coming up short of a second consecutive 1,000 rushing yard season. Keenan Allen leads the receiving corp that returns plenty of valuable weapons, including Travis Benjamin and Mike Williams. The Antonio Gates era looks to be over as he was let go, and those are some big shoes that will have to be filled. Hunter Henry has the potential to do so, but he needs to focus on staying healthy as he missed almost all of last season due to a torn ACL.
Defensively the Chargers return plenty as Joey Bosa leads a strong defensive line that now includes rookie Jerry Tillery from Notre Dame, who the Chargers drafted in the first round of the 2019 draft. Another big addition to the Chargers’ defense was the free agent signing of linebacker Thomas Davis. Los Angeles also has one of the better secondaries in the NFL with safety Derwin James and corners Casey Hayward and Desmond King. The Chargers’ defense should be key if Los Angeles wants to dethrone Kansas City in the division. They look like the only other real threat in the AFC West. Only time will tell if the Chargers can pull it off.
Chargers Win Total: O/U 9.5 Wins
Oddsmakers have the Chargers’ win total at nine and a half. Based on last season’s success that seems very capable for Los Angeles as they were able to go 12-4 in 2018. The Chargers improved their win total by three games from the 2017 season last year, and look like a playoff contender once again for the coming season.
Returning a top 10 offense and a top 10 defense, the Chargers may have come up short in their divisional round playoff game against the Patriots last season, but they’re still a team that can make a deep run. It will be hard for the Chargers to dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC West, but they are the team that has the best shot of doing so. The Chargers and Chiefs both went 12-4 last season and the only reason Los Angeles wasn’t able to win the division was a week one loss to the Chiefs. Luckily for the Chargers, they were able to prove they could hang with Kansas City as they went to Arrowhead Stadium later in the season and beat the Chiefs on their own field in a one-point game.
Behind the leadership of Rivers and a strong defense, head coach Anthony Lynn could be in for a big 2019. If they can stay healthy the Chargers could be looking good come playoff time. It’s a little bit under what this team accomplished last season, but regardless nine and a half is a good start. The Chargers winning over 9.5 is a good play.
Odds To Make The Playoffs: Yes -230, No +190
The Chiefs might be a stronger contender for the ultimate goal of winning championships, but the Chargers have a strong case for qualifying for the playoffs in 2019. Coming off a successful 12 win season it’s not hard to see why the Chargers are a contender heading into the season. Last season saw the AFC be a lot tougher than previous seasons as the cutoff was 10 wins. Anything lower than 10 last season in the AFC and you wouldn’t make the playoffs. Returning strong units on both offense and defense doesn’t hurt their chances either.
Laying -230 is a bit steep here, so I’m staying away, even though I think they’ll probably make the postseason.
Odds To Win The AFC West: +195
The Chiefs are the heavy favorite to repeat as division champs, but the Chargers sit not too far behind, much like they were last season. The Chiefs may be the favorite, but if they have an AFC Championship hangover like many teams do each season then the Chargers sit waiting in the wings to sneak in to take the division crown. That is why LA isn’t a bad bet to contend for the AFC West, especially following the momentum they built in 2018.
The Broncos and Raiders still look to be far from contention, so the Chargers are the only hope to dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC West. Don’t sleep on Rivers and the Chargers, and if the Chiefs falter at all they might swoop in.
Odds To Win AFC Championship: +750
While the Chargers are a good bet to make the playoffs and maybe even win their division, they are not quite to the level of contention for the AFC Championship. This is a borderline questionable type of bet because the Chargers are a good football team, but they just can’t seem to get the job done in the playoffs. Los Angeles’ last four playoff runs all ended in the divisional round. They last made it to the Conference Championship in 2007, and it’s going to be a tough road to reach that level with the Chiefs and Patriots still prowling. Avoid the Chargers on this one.
Odds To Win The Super Bowl: +1600
Similar story at this level. If they can’t get past Kansas City or New England there is no chance they will get to the Super Bowl let alone have an opportunity to win it. LA has the players and system to get the job done, it’s just Rivers hasn’t been able to jump that second to last hurdle that is winning the AFC and making it to the Super Bowl. The Chargers are a strong longshot but stay away from them.
