Best Bets for Chargers vs. Chiefs on Thursday Night Football (Can Chargers Cover?)

The two top dogs in the AFC West face-off on Thursday Night Football, with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Los Angeles Chargers. 

Both of these teams won their Week 1 matchup, and oddsmakers are expecting a high-scoring affair with a total of 54 in this game. 

How should we bet on the Chargers and Chiefs? We’ve broken down some prop bets, touchdown scorer picks and parlay picks to make, and now I’m sharing my best bets. 

Let’s dive in: 

Thursday Night Football Best Bets for Chargers vs. Chiefs

• Los Angeles Chargers +4 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-110)
• Patrick Mahomes OVER 2.5 Passing Touchdowns (+112)
• JuJu Smith-Schuster Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+145)

Los Angeles Chargers +4 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-110)

The Chargers are a little banged up coming into this game, but I think there is value in getting them with more than a field goal cushion. 

Keenan Allen is out on offense, but the Chargers still moved the ball well against Las Vegas, and that came in a game where Mike Williams made just two catches. Now, the Chargers face the Chiefs without starting corner Trent McDuffie on a short week? I think they can keep pace. 

Kansas City is going to score plenty of points, but Brandon Staley’s aggressiveness could help the Chargers keep a drive or two alive. In a division game between two of the NFL’s best teams, four points is just too much. 

Patrick Mahomes OVER 2.5 Passing Touchdowns (+112)

Want a crazy stat for the always entertaining Patrick Mahomes?

Our guy Joe Summers pointed out to me that Mahomes has at least three touchdown passes in 12 of his 14 September games in his career entering this matchup. 

Want even more?

Well, he’s also done it in six straight. 

The Chargers could be without cornerback J.C. Jackson in this game which will just make things easier on Mahomes in this matchup. In addition to that, Andy Reid allowed Mahomes to throw the ball several times close to the goal line in Week 1, and if that trend continues, he’s a near lock to have a multi-score game. 

This is a value at plus money for Mahomes to light it up in a potential shootout at home. 

JuJu Smith-Schuster Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+145)

Yes, JuJu Smith-Schuster lost a fumble in Week 1, but the Chiefs new receiver showed that he can be a dynamic weapon as well. 

Smith-Schuster was targeted eight times against the Arizona Cardinals, making six catches for 79 yards and playing 66 percent of the snaps. 

Only Travis Kelce had more targets than Smith-Schuster, and Mecole Hardman was the only other player with over four targets. JuJu looks like the top option outside for KC, so why not bet on him at plus money over Kelce at -145?

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.