Chargers Raiders Odds

Written by Jack Jones

While the San Diego Chargers already know their fate heading into the season finale, the Oakland Raiders don’t know whether or not they will play in the playoffs for the first time since 2002. These two AFC West rivals meet Sunday in Week 17 with a lot at stake for one team. Oakland needs some help, but they have to win first before any of it matters. The Raiders will be going for their fourth straight victory in this series after beating the Chargers 24-17 on the road on November 10th.

Taking a look at the NFL lines for Week 17, I find a spread of Oakland -3 over San Diego and a total set of 47 points.

Oakland

The Raiders are very much alive in terms of making the playoffs. Oakland (8-7, 3-4 home) squeaked out a hard-fought 16-13 overtime victory at Kansas City last week to stay alive. They were actually outgained 435-308 by the Chiefs, and overcame 15 penalties for 92 yards. One of them was a delay of game that waked out a fake field goal that would have gone for a 36-yard touchdown pass.

Oakland benefited from two blocked field goals off the right foot of Chiefs kicker Ryan Succup, including a 49-yarder that would have won it at the end of regulation. Now, the Raiders need Kansas City to beat Denver this Sunday if they want a chance to win the division. That scenario couples with a Raiders win would make them AFC West champs.

There is also another scenario that would send Oakland to the playoffs. They could earn a wild card berth is Cincinnati loses to Baltimore. If that happens, then they also need the New York Jets to beat Miami or to have Tennessee lose to Houston. Then again, none of that will matter if they don’t take care of business against the Chargers.

Carson Palmer threw two touchdown passes to Denarius Moore in their first meeting with San Diego, but it was Michael Bush that stole the show. He ran for a season-high 157 yards while also finishing with a career-high 85 receiving yards in their 24-17 victory. The Raiders could potentially get a huge lift from the return of running back Darren McFadden (foot) and receiver Jacoby Ford (foot). McFadden is currently doubtful while Ford is questionable.

San Diego

It has been a season of ups and downs for the Chargers this year. San Diego (7-8, 2-5 away) opened the season 4-1 before losing six straight games. They rebounded by winning their next three to give themselves small hope of winning the AFC West. However, their hopes were crushed last week with a 38-10 loss at Detroit.

San Diego was thoroughly dominated by the Lions, falling behind 24-0 by halftime. They were outgained 440-367 for the game. Philip Rivers threw for 299 yards and a touchdown, but he was also intercepted twice. One of those picks was returned four yards for a touchdown by Cliff Avril.

There’s a decent chance that this will be the last game Norv Turner ever coaches in San Diego. Despite not having a losing record since 2003, the Chargers simply have not lived up to expectations in terms of the playoffs. Turner has failed to get San Diego to the playoffs despite having the talent to do so.

Rivers has thrown for 4,314 yards and 24 touchdowns this season, but he has also thrown a career-high 19 interceptions. That is tied for the most in the league with Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman. Ryan Mathews has been a bright spot. The second-year pro has rushed for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns on the year. Vincent Jackson leads all receivers with 58 grabs for 1,077 yards and eight scores.

Betting Trends

The Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 3.0 points or less, but just 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a S.U. loss.

The Raiders are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 vs. AFC West foes, but only 2-11 ATS in their last 13 games as a home favorite of 0.5-3.0.

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