The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders will face off in a game where the loser is likely eliminated from the playoffs. Although there is a chance both teams can sneak in, it’s extremely unlikely. They both sit at 9-7, and they’re looking for the final two Wild Card slots. You’ll find the NFL odds and our pick and prediction for the Chargers vs. Raiders game below.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders pick, prediction | Week 18
- Spread: Chargers -3 (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Moneyline: Chargers -150, Raiders +130
- Over/Under: 49
Odd playoff scenario
This is one of the strangest scheduling mishaps in the NFL. The Indianapolis Colts, Chargers, and Raiders are all 9-7, playing for the final two Wild Card spots [along with the Pittsburgh Steelers].
The Colts play the Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 PM EST. If Indianapolis loses that game, the Chargers and Raiders can lock in their playoff spots with a tie. It’s unlikely that the Colts lose to one of the worst teams in the NFL, but crazier things have happened.
[bet-promo id=”174860″ ]How would this work for the NFL, though? Will they force the teams to play? Could they kneel the ball throughout the game and overtime? It seems like an unprecedented situation that I’m sure there is some hidden rule for that I’m not aware of.
Regardless, this was one of the weirder scheduling conflicts in the league, as they should’ve flexed the games to play all at the same time.
Chargers vs. Raiders betting trends
Los Angeles has been neutral against the spread (ATS) this season. They own an 8-8 ATS record through 16 games, failing to cover by an average of 1.2 points per game.
They’ve covered in three of their last five contests, although they’ve failed to cover in two of their last three.
Las Vegas has been slightly worse, recording a 7-9 ATS record thus far. They’re failing to cover by an average of 2.3 points per game. The Raiders have covered in each of their last two games but failed to cover the spread in the three before.
These teams sit on opposite sides of the game total. The Chargers have found the over in 56.3% of their games, while the Raiders have hit the under at the same rate this season.
Chargers vs. Raiders prediction
The Chargers and Raiders are two middling teams, with one probably missing the playoffs after this game. Los Angeles has flashed at times throughout the season, while Las Vegas doesn’t boast nearly as much pure upside.
That has a lot to do with Justin Herbert, who is the type of quarterback that can single-handedly win games. The Chargers are getting healthier after dealing with quite a bit of COVID issues, and I prefer their roster to the Raiders.
Simply put, Las Vegas doesn’t have the metrics or roster of a playoff team. I won’t be overly surprised if they sneak into the postseason, but I prefer Los Angeles in this matchup.
Chargers vs. Raiders Prediction: Chargers 28, Raiders 24