After posting a solid 9-7 record in head coach Anthony Lynn’s first season a year ago and just missing out on a playoff berth, veteran gun-slinger Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers enter the 2018 regular season as one of the ‘sexy picks’ to challenge for a berth in the AFC Championship game at the very least.
Whether the Bolts will live up to their expectations or those of NFL prognosticators everywhere remains to be seen, but make no mistake about it, there are a bunch of games of L.A.’s 2018 schedule that are must-see and must-bet matchups that football fans and betting enthusiasts just shouldn’t miss.
Here’s my take on those contests!
Los Angeles Chargers 2018 NFL Betting Guide
Stacked. ⚡ pic.twitter.com/snbxsWpKI4
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) July 6, 2018
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:05 p.m.
Believe it or not, the Bolts have lost eight straight to the Chiefs including their pair of double-digit beatdowns in weeks 3 and 15 last season. Unfortunately for Kansas City, all good things must come to an end. The Bolts get the win in a shootout as they go up against second-year pro Patrick Mahomes for the first time.
NFL Betting Pick: Chargers 28 Chiefs 24
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.
The Chargers intercepted Nathan Peterman five times in the first half in their 54-24 Week 11 win over Buffalo a year ago. The Bolts will cruise again as Anthony Lynn makes his former team pay for not hiring him as their head coach. This time however, they’ll harass A.J. McCarron until the cows come home!
NFL Betting Pick: Chargers 31 Bills 21
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m.
This Week 3 ‘Battle of Los Angeles’ should be a thriller. However, I’m going to urge you to back the Rams because of their offseason upgrades on the defensive side of the ball!
NFL Betting Pick: Rams 31 Chargers 27
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m.
The Niners have gotten a ton of love and some overly hyped expectations because of the eye-opening play of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo late last season, but I’m expecting Philip Rivers to show Jimmy G a thing or two by lighting up Frisco’s defense in this Week 4 affair!
NFL Betting Pick: Chargers 35 Niners 24
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, vs. Oakland Raiders, 4:05 p.m.
The Chargers swept the Raiders last season and I like them to make it three straight against Oakland although the Raiders will be more formidable under new head coach Jon Gruden in his return to the NFL after a nine-year hiatus.
NFL Betting Pick: Chargers 31 Raiders 27
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m.
The Chargers won’t go down easily, but like most visiting teams, they are going down in Seattle against Russell Wilson and company. I like the Seahawks in something of a shootout.
NFL Betting Pick: Seahawks 28 Chargers 24
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, vs. Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m.
The broncos have a new – and competent – starting quarterback for the first time in a while in veteran Case Keenum, but the broncos are still going down against a L.A. team that is just better than they are right now!
NFL Betting Pick: Chargers 24 Broncos 20
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.
The Steelers just own the Chargers, having gone 8-2 over the last 10 meetings against the Bolts. Still, I’m thinking an upset could be brewing in this Week 13 showdown.
NFL Betting Pick: Chargers 28 Steelers 27
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 4:05 p.m.
Former longtime Chargers safety Eric Weddle faces his former team for the first time, but it won’t matter simply because Joe Flacco is no Philip Rivers!
NFL Betting Pick: Chargers 27 Ravens 20
