Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers NFL 10-4

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The Los Angeles Chargers host the Las Vegas Raiders in what will likely be a close game between these AFC powerhouses.

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Raiders Offense Too Much for LAC Here?

Monday Night Football has a tough act to follow with Tom Brady’s return to New England on Sunday night, but the Raiders visiting the Chargers should be another good one between combatants in the super-tight AFC West. Las Vegas has moved to 3-0 with an OT in over Maimi; meanwhile, the Chargers head to week four following an upset of the Chiefs. This is a tough one for sportsbooks to put a number on, but both BetUS and BetOnline have LAC as the standard -3 point favorite due to home field advantage.

Raiders Finding a Way

They’re not the prettiest 3-0 team in the NFL, but the Raiders remain unbeaten thanks to their second OT win of the season last weekend at home against Miami. The Dolphins were up 14-2 after the 1st quarter, but another inspired performance from Derek Carr (26/43, 386 yards, 2/1) fueled the Raiders to rip off 23 unanswered points.

Now the Raiders will look for their 2nd road win of the season after they were impressive in a 26-17 victory at Pittsburgh in week 2, even though the betting odds had them as +5.5 underdogs. Carr had 382 yards in that game and has now tossed for 300+ in five straight dating back to last season. The Chargers pass defense gave up 3 TD passes to Patrick Mahomes last week but also intercepted him twice and held KC to just 251 net passing yards.

The best way for the Raiders to hit the +150 NFL odds in moneyline betting would be to get their running game going. For as impressive as the Las Vegas passing game has been, exploiting the Chargers’ #32 ranked run defense (170 ypg) is a more reliable game plan. RB Josh Jacobs is probable Monday after missing the last two weeks with an ankle injury, and Peyton Barber stepped up with 111 yards on 23 carries last week vs. a good Dolphins defense.

Time for Chargers to Get Up Again

Playing tough divisional matchups in consecutive weeks isn’t ideal, but it’s the spot the Chargers are in after beating the Chiefs 30-24 in Arrowhead Stadium in one of the biggest upsets for the free NFL picks of week 3. Most of the teams in the AFC West play each other tough, and Los Angeles had a win over the Chiefs last season as well as an OT loss.

The Chargers and Raiders are no strangers to close games either, with last year’s series split being decided by a total of 8 points. Each team also won on the opposition’s field, which gives the Raiders some extra value for this week’s sports betting picks. There is an extra day of prep for this Monday night matchup, and Los Angeles would be wise to use it getting their run defense in order. Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for 100 yards on just 17 carries last week, while Dallas had 198 on the ground in their 20-17 win over LAC the Sunday before.

The good news about some Chargers’ defensive woes is that their offense had its best production of the season so far last Sunday. Justin Herbert tossed 4 TD passes, and Mike Williams had 122 yards and two scores through the air. That’s a bad Chiefs defense too, but with the Raiders being only middle of the pack on that side of the ball, would a totals wager on the ‘over’ 51.5 be the way to go here?

Raiders at Chargers Pick

This seems like it’s too hard of a spot for the Chargers to immediately get back up following their emotional win in Kansas City last week. Sure it is a divisional foe, and there is extra incentive to hand the Raiders their first loss; the potential for Las Vegas to run the ball with ease makes them the play.

The Pick: Raiders +3