Chargers vs. Raiders Point Spread: NFL Week 18 Odds, Prediction
The Chargers are 3-point favourites on the NFL odds with a total of 48.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
On the final Sunday of each NFL season, the league doesn’t pre-schedule a Sunday night game but instead waits to see which might be the most playoff important to flex into that window. Chargers at Raiders was the no-brainer choice as it’s the only win-or-go-home matchup on the schedule. The victor is an AFC wild-card team and the loser’s season is over. Most likely, the winner will visit AFC favourite Kansas City on wild-card weekend but that could change Sunday.
In Week 4 on a Monday night, the Chargers beat the Raiders 28-14 – it was 21-0 at halftime. Austin Ekeler’s 11-yard touchdown run with about five minutes remaining clinched it. He rushed for 117 yards and that TD and also caught a TD pass from Justin Herbert, who threw for three scores. Derek Carr threw for 196 and two scores for the Raiders, who were held to 213 yards.
The road team is 10-4 against the spread in the past 14 meetings.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers’ 34-13 home win over Denver on Sunday knocked a few other AFC wild-card hopefuls out of the playoff chase. Justin Herbert threw for 237 yards and two scores – his 35 TDs passes are a franchise record — and Austin Ekeler returned from COVID protocols and totaled 102 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Ekeler’s 18 total touchdowns are second in the NFL behind Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor. Mike Williams was able to clear protocols and caught a TD pass. Herbert also became the fastest in league history to 800 completions (31 games).
Andre Roberts had a 101-yard kickoff return for a score. He only signed with the team in mid-October and became the lone active player with three kickoff return touchdowns and three punt return touchdowns in his career. No Chargers player had returned a kickoff for a score since 2012. The Chargers are 6-2 ATS in their past eight vs. the AFC West.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have had more than their sure of off-the-field issues this season (Jon Gruden, Henry Ruggs, Damon Arnette) so the last thing they needed was another distraction, but they got one as rookie cornerback Nate Hobbs was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of DUI early Monday morning. Ruggs killed a woman in a DUI accident just a couple of months ago. Hobbs has been a fifth-round steal with an interception, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a sack among his 67 tackles, which rank fourth on the team. Not clear on his status for this game.
Las Vegas was a 23-20 upset winner at Indianapolis on Sunday, its third straight win. Daniel Carlson hit the winning field goal from 33 yards out as time expired. Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller hasn’t played since Nov. 25 due to injury/COVID but is expected to Sunday. The Raiders are 2-5 ATS in their past seven at home.
LAC
LV