49ers vs. Chargers Point Spread: NFL Pre-Season Week 2 Odds, Prediction
Sunday will be the second chance to see 2021 third-overall pick Trey Lance under centre for the 49ers, while the Chargers will continue to rest their star players for the regular season.
Sunday’s also the first true Chargers home game at SoFi Stadium with fans attending. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. EST.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Chargers have enjoyed some recent success over the 49ers, both winning and covering in five of their last seven meetings. San Francisco’s really made an emphasis on running the ball against Los Angeles as they’ve averaged 129.7 rushing yards in those seven games.
Overall, the 49ers are in a slump after winning just one of their last six games and covering in just three of their last 10. The Chargers have both won and covered their last five contests.
Oddsmakers have the 49ers as 5-point favourites to win on the NFL preseason odds, with the over/under at 34.5.
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco dropped their pre-season opener 19-16 to Kansas City, but the main takeaway from the loss was an 80-yard touchdown pass from Lance on his first NFL completion. Lance hit Trent Sherfield for the score, and then finished 5-of-14 for 128 yards, while getting sacked four times.
Jamycal Hasty led all 49ers with 10 carries for 63 yards and a major, and now-released quarterback Josh Rosen threw for 93 yards while completing 10-of-15 passing attempts. With Rosen out, it’s a battle between Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo for San Fran’s QB1 spot. Garoppolo certainly has the inside track, but some more long touchdown passes could give Kyle Shanahan some hard thinking about his short-term plans at quarterback.
Los Angeles Chargers
Former Rams defensive coordinator and current Chargers head coach Brandon Staley has adopted Rams head coach Sean McVay’s preseason philosophy by electing to not play his key players early, or at all, in the preseason. Quarterback Justin Herbert, receiver Keenan Allen, defensive end Joey Bosa, and safety Derwin James are some of the names who didn’t play last week for Los Angeles and won’t again in Week 2.
Instead, it’s journeyman Chase Daniel quarterbacking the Chargers’ offence. The 34-year-old pivot went 15-of-24 for 104 yards in the Chargers 13-6 win over the Rams last week, completing six of those passes for 36 yards to 2021 third-round pick (and Brampton, Ontario native) Josh Palmer. Rookie Larry Rountree was the Chargers leading rusher with eight carries for 63 yards.
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LAC