As I mentioned yesterday, this week’s Thursday night action should be a really good one between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders. These two bitter rivals will clash head to head in a game that I believe will come down to the wire. Funny enough, the Chargers are coming into this game having lost an incredible NINE straight games against AFC West division opponents, which is quite unbelievable considering the talent that they have on their team. What really drags them down is the buffoonery of one Anthony Lynn, the much-maligned head coach of Los Angeles. People love to look at him and immediately bet the other team, but the point of the article yesterday was to remind you that, historically speaking, Lynn coaches extremely close games at one of the highest clips of any coach in recent memory. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is also ultra-conservative, which can really be a hindrance when trying to close out games. Especially ones that are as important to the Raiders as this one, where they practically need to win to get back into the playoff discussion. I will give the Raiders some credit, they tend to play better in prime-time situations. They have covered the spread in their last six such affairs, which means that they tend to rise to the occasion in these games. I still like the Chargers in this game, and think they have a very real chance to win outright. DraftKings is giving you a chance to win outright as well, by offering up to $1,000 in deposit bonuses.

Best Bets

Spread: LAC +3.5

I don’t know how you don’t bet the Chargers at this number. The Raiders have not looked good as of late, and now Henry Ruggs lll is out with COVID. He was their one guy who could stretch the field vertically and open it up underneath for Darren Waller and Nelson Agholor. I really question the effort I’ve seen from both sides of the ball in Vegas, which might be part of the reason they just fired their defensive coordinator. The Raiders aren’t very good in my opinion, so why not take the points against an overvalued favorite? Las Vegas is 2-4 straight up at home, so this has not been the welcome they wanted to their new home. When you combine this with the fact that the Chargers have the better QB, WR group, and defense, I think you have to take the extra points with LA. I actually think they win the game outright, so Chargers moneyline is a bet for me as well.

Total: No Play at 54

This total is just going to keep getting bet up with two seemingly atrocious defenses playing in this game. I felt more comfortable at 53 and under, but now we are reaching a point where I almost wouldn’t bet it. The last game between these two teams finished at 57 points, and if you remember, the final call could have put it in the mid-60s. The Raiders have allowed 35 or more points in three out of four games since then, and have their own ability to falter down the stretch in games. LA’s 45-0 loss to New England isn’t as bad as it looks defensively, and Matt Ryan’s three interceptions last week could be viewed as either great plays or Ryan faltering. Regardless, the Chargers shutout Atlanta in the second half last week and it should be noted that they were one of two teams to hold the Buffalo Bills to 27 or fewer points in their last five games. I cannot be comfortable holding an under ticket in this game, but when a number is this high with the LA defense playing better lately, I also can’t blindly bet the over.

Player Props:

Justin Herbert OVER Passing Yards – The Raiders have been getting absolutely shredded by opposing QBs this season, ranking 25th in the NFL against the pass. Herbert should have no problem carving them up.

Justin Herbert OVER TD Passes – The Raiders have also been scored on this season. A LOT actually. They give up 30.1 points per game, and there’s not a thing a new defensive coordinator can do to fix the lack of talent there. I just think they get demolished through the air in this one.

Keenan Allen OVER Receiving Yards – Allen is the primary guy in LA and has been for years. There’s not one guy in the secondary for Vegas that I would trust to cover him.

Keenan Allen Anytime TD – See above. Not one guy.

Hunter Henry OVER Receiving Yards – Henry is yet another man that is a great big target for Herbert, and also another man that the Raiders will have serious problems defending. Sorry, Nick Kwiatkowski.

Hunter Henry Anytime TD – One of the Chargers’ most reliable red-zone targets, Henry has scored a TD three straight Thursday night appearances. I like him to make it four.

Josh Jacobs OVER Rushing Yards – The one area where I think the Raiders have somewhat of an advantage is running the football. Jacobs will get his, and the offensive line for Vegas is very good.

Josh Jacobs Anytime TD – See how these yards and TDs play hand-in-hand? I think Vegas will be able to run the ball with some success, so Jacobs getting into the endzone is a pretty solid bet to make, and one that will probably be juiced to the moon.

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