Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers: Monday Night Football features a double-header, and this AFC West clash is the nightcap. The Chargers traveled to Brazil two Fridays ago and knocked off the Chiefs 27-21. Meanwhile, the new-look Raiders – with Pete Carroll at the helm and Geno Smith under center – went into Foxborough and beat Drake Maye and the Patriots 20-13.
So, which team has the edge to get to 2-0? Let’s dive into my Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers predictions and picks.
For additional information on picks, props, moneylines, and more on today’s slate, take a look at our NFL Picks Page or our NFL Odds Page.
You can also browse our recommendations for the best online sportsbooks available in the U.S.
Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers NFL Betting Insights
Is the year Justin Herbert leads the Chargers on a deep playoff run?
Raiders vs Chargers Storyline & Odds: This game opened with the Chargers favored by 3, and the total set at 44.5. We’ve seen slight movement since, as Los Angeles is now a consensus -3.5 favorite and the total has climbed to 46.5. Adding even more intrigue to this divisional showdown is the history between these two head coaches, which only fuels the fire.
The Carroll–Harbaugh feud originated in college. In 2007, Jim Harbaugh’s Stanford squad stunned Pete Carroll’s top-ranked USC team as 41-point underdogs. USC got some payback the following year in Palo Alto, but in 2009 Harbaugh ran it up on Carroll, hammering the Trojans 55-21 in Los Angeles. That blowout ended with the now-famous handshake, when Carroll asked Harbaugh, “What’s your deal?”
The rivalry carried over to the NFL. Carroll finally got his measure of revenge in the 2013 NFC Championship, when his Seahawks edged Harbaugh’s 49ers 23-17. Even today, Carroll doesn’t hide his feelings: “I remember Jim. I have no fond memories… there have been great games.”
Which coach will get the better of the other tonight?
Back the Better Team: Plain and simple – the better roster, quarterback and coach will get the job done. In this case, it’s the Los Angeles Chargers. And yes, to clarify, at this moment I do believe Jim Harbaugh is the better coach.
This Chargers team has been building toward stardom for years, and if Week 1 was any indication, they might finally be on the verge of becoming a powerhouse.
Now, does that mean I’m racing to lay -3.5? Not exactly. If you didn’t grab the Chargers at -3, you missed the best number. That was the time to buy, and it came with a little security blanket. At this point, I’d still lean toward laying -3.5 rather than taking it, but I’m hesitant to lock in a worse number just for the sake of having action.
Instead, I see value elsewhere…
Best Bet: Let’s shift to the prop market and zone in on Justin Herbert’s passing touchdowns. The line sits at 1.5 with -115 juice to the over, and I’m willing to pay that price for Herbert to throw at least two touchdowns.
Herbert tossed three last week, and no – that doesn’t guarantee anything for tonight, but it does paint a bit of a picture for us. The Chargers’ backfield is a bit shaky right now. Najee Harris isn’t at full strength, and rookie Omarion Hampton is still unproven. That’s not to say he can’t make an impact, but Los Angeles is more likely to find scoring success with the ball in their franchise quarterback’s hands rather than leaning on those backs.
On top of that, the Raiders boast a strong run defense led by Maxx Crosby. It’s a tough front that ranked 2nd in rush EPA per play and 9th in rush success rate allowed last week.
The total ticking up suggests this could turn into a back-and-forth battle, which only creates more chances for Herbert to clear this number. I expected the vig on the over to be closer to -125 or -130, so at -115, I see value in backing this play tonight.
Play: Justin Herbert Over 1.5 Passing Touchdowns (-115)
Still Didn’t Get Your NFL Fix?
Follow me on X @dannyburke5 for all my picks, analysis and plenty more. Also be sure to follow Betting News on ‘X’ and Twitch to catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks and news every day and check out our Free Expert Picks for every major sports league.
Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly
Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER