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Chargers vs. Raiders Prediction, Odds, Against Spread and Over/Under for NFL Week 18

By Matt De Saro

The Raiders and Chargers are division rivals fighting for a spot in the playoffs Week 18 in Las Vegas.
The Raiders and Chargers are division rivals fighting for a spot in the playoffs Week 18 in Las Vegas. / Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY
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After the tumultuous season the Las Vegas Raiders have had, it is unbelievable that they are just one game away from the playoffs. All they need to do is come out in Week 18 and beat their division rival Los Angeles Chargers. This would be one of the most surprising outcomes down the stretch after the Raiders looked dead in the water numerous times in the second half of the season. 

The Chargers, meanwhile, are 9-7 but have yet to secure a playoff spot just yet. LA is currently occupying the seventh spot in the AFC while the Colts are sixth and the Raiders eighth. The Chargers are coming off a blowout win over the Broncos 34-13 and proved why they are such a dangerous team when the pieces all fall into place. While they are an inconsistent team, the Chargers can go toe to toe with anyone in the NFL. I am not sure the same could be said for the Raiders.

Here are the odds for this Week 18 AFC West showdown, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Chargers vs. Raiders, Spread, and Total Odds

Spread:

  • Chargers: -3 (-110)
  • Raiders: +3 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Chargers: -160
  • Raiders: +130

Total:

  • 48.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Chargers vs. Raiders Betting Trends

  • The Chargers are 8-4 against the spread (ATS) in their last 12 games against the Raiders. 
  • The Chargers are 6-3 straight up (SU) in their last nine games against the Raiders. 
  • The OVER is 6-1 in the Chargers’ last seven games. 
  • The Chargers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games against the AFC. 
  • The Chargers are 6-2 SU in their last eight games against the AFC West. 
  •  The Raiders are 3-6 ATS in their last nine games. 
  • The Raiders are 1-5 ATS in their last six home games against the Chargers. 

Chargers vs. Raiders Prediction and Pick

The Chargers had the playoffs in their grasp, but tripped at the finish line. They had an embarrassing loss by Houston in Week 16, but bounced back nicely against Denver. Los Angeles snapped a two-game losing streak and put them back in the position to make the playoffs. The Chargers just have to do what they did in Week 14 and beat Las Vegas again to clinch a playoff spot.

I expect this game to be a lot harder for the Chargers to navigate. With two division rivals coming into the season finale with equal records and a playoff spot on the line, this will be a game to watch. 

I know that the spread is thin at three points, but I don’t trust the Chargers to cover. Their defense is just too much of a liability for me to take a chance on here. L.A.’s defense ranks 26th in the NFL in terms of scoring defense at 26.5 PPG. They cough up more than 135 yards per game on the ground alone and 361 total yards per game. The Chargers will be able to score against the Raiders but is going to be hard to keep pace with Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs. 

The Raiders will be without their star rookie Nate Hobbs most likely in this spot, however. Hobbs was arrested for DUI in the hours after Las Vegas’ win over the Colts on Sunday. This does leave a hole in the secondary but I still think the Raiders are the play as three-point underdogs at home. 

Pick: Las Vegas Raiders +130 to win

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