San Diego at Kansas City Week 1 Lines & Free Pick

It’s potentially the final season in the city of San Diego for the Chargers as they could move to Los Angeles as soon as next year if San Diego doesn’t agree to build the Chargers a new stadium. The Bolts open the season at Kansas City, the early favorite to win the AFC West on NFL Week 1 betting lines.

Here’s a Closer Look at the Chargers at Chiefs Week 1 Lines, Free Pick & TV Info

Veterans and rookies will report to training camp on July 29.

Fans report on July 30. #RECHARGED pic.twitter.com/r7zzu5QCxg — San Diego Chargers (@Chargers) July 1, 2016

When: Sunday, Sept. 11, 1 PM ET Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City TV: CBS Stream: NFL.com Radio: San Diego / Kansas City Opening NFL Lines: Chiefs -7 (43)

Chargers vs. Chiefs Historical Betting Trends

Kansas City easily swept the 2015 season series. In Week 11 at San Diego, the Chiefs rolled 33-3. Defensive tackle Dontari Poe scored a 1-yard touchdown on fourth down and linebacker Justin Houston intercepted Philip Rivers and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown. At 346 pounds, Poe became the heaviest player in league history to score an offensive touchdown. Rivers was just 19 of 30 for just 178 yards. In Week 14 in Kansas City, the Chiefs won 10-3. After shutting down San Diego most of the game, the Chiefs forced Rivers into a pair of incomplete passes near the goal line in the final seconds. San Diego got the ball at its own 11 with 5 minutes left and quickly moved into Kansas City territory, converting fourth down three times. But after Rivers was called for delay of game at the Chiefs 1 with 5 seconds left, he threw high and out of the end zone. Playing through the flu, Rivers finished with 263 yards passing and an interception. Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings. Road team is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings. Chargers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings.

Why Bet on San Diego?

Well, I probably wouldn’t. But I do like the Bolts’ offseason acquisition of receiver Travis Benjamin from Cleveland in free agency. The Chargers finished with a league-worst 84 yards on punt returns in 2015, so Benjamin offers an immediate upgrade as an electric punt returner. But Benjamin also will help the Chargers create more explosive plays on offense. San Diego finished tied for 14th in the NFL last season in passing plays of 20-plus yards with 53. The Chargers also finished tied for No. 19 in the league in 2015 with just nine running plays of 20-plus yards. Meanwhile, Chargers starting running back Melvin Gordon (microfracture surgery) is expected to be 100 percent healthy for training camp. For as serious as his operation was, Gordon’s recovery appears to have gone as smoothly as possible. Speaking earlier this month, coach Mike McCoy said “you would have never known he was injured.” Gordon struggled mightily as a rookie.

Why Bet on Kansas City?

This is one of the best defenses in the NFL even though Houston could miss the entire season. After going through chemo therapy following the 2014 season, a cancer-free safety Eric Berry returned to football last year and was named to the AP All-Pro Team, Pro Bowl and earned the 2015 Comeback Player of the Year award. Berry finished third on the Chiefs in tackles and had two interceptions last season, culminating in the fourth Pro Bowl appearance of his six-year NFL career. Meanwhile, cornerback Steven Nelson has been one of the standouts during the offseason program. Expected to serve as the nickel corner, the Chiefs need Nelson to live up to his third-round pedigree in their suddenly thin corner group. Marcus Peters and Phillip Gaines (ACL) are expected to start on the outside. “I thought he kind of took off the last quarter of the season. We were excited to see if he’d continue to grow at that inside position," coach Andy Reid said. “He has made some plays in the inside with the first group there.”

My Free Pick

Go Kansas City and certainly under on NFL totals since the Chiefs totally shut down the Chargers twice in 2015.