The Los Angeles Chargers have made the playoffs just once in the last 8 years, but in quarterback Justin Herbert the organization believes it has the foundation piece to build a franchise around. The offense has already responded, but the 29th-ranked scoring defense was the problem last year that kept the Chargers out of the playoffs again.
Below, we look at the Los Angeles Chargers 2022 NFL futures odds – including win total, division, conference and Super Bowl odds at Tipico Sportsbook – with best bet suggestions among our NFL picks and predictions.
The Chargers went to great pains in the offseason to address their awful defense. They made a big move to trade for edge rusher Kahlil Mack to provide an every-play threat. In free agency, they made splash moves in signing CB J.C. Jackson and DT Austin Jackson. But, the Chargers lost, or haven’t re-signed, more players than they added. The talent level went up, but the numbers went down, creating a problem that will likely prevent the Chargers from making a big leap up defensively.
L.A. had just 2 picks in the first 122 selections of the NFL Draft and made strategic moves to add players they expect will have the chance to start immediately — G Zion Johnson with the 17th pick and S J.T. Woods in the 3rd round. They didn’t have a lot of early capital by design, but made the most of what they had.
Los Angeles Chargers’ 2022 schedule
| WK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
| All times ET |
|||
| 1 | Sept. 11 | vs. Las Vegas Raiders | 4:25 p.m. |
| 2 | Sept. 15 (Th) | at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. |
| 3 | Sept. 25 | vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | 4:05 p.m. |
| 4 | Oct. 2 | at Houston Texans | 1 p.m. |
| 5 | Oct. 9 | at Cleveland Browns | 1 p.m. |
| 6 | Oct. 17 (M) | vs. Denver Broncos | 8:15 p.m. |
| 7 | Oct. 23 | vs. Seattle Seahawks | 4:25 p.m. |
| 8 | BYE WEEK | ||
| 9 | Nov. 6 | at Atlanta Falcons | 1 p.m. |
| 10 | Nov. 13 | at San Francisco 49ers | 8:20 p.m. |
| 11 | Nov. 20 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. |
| 12 | Nov. 27 | at Arizona Cardinals | 4:05 p.m. |
| 13 | Dec.. 4 | at Las Vegas Raiders | 4:25 p.m. |
| 14 | Dec. 11 | vs. Miami Dolphins | 4:05 p.m. |
| 15 | Dec. 18 | vs. Tennessee Titans | 4:25 p.m. |
| 16 | Dec. 26 (M) | at Indianapolis Colts | 8:15 p.m. |
| 17 | Jan. 1 | vs. Los Angeles Rams | 8:20 p.m. |
| 18 | Jan. 8 | at Denver Broncos | TBD |
Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $200 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Los Angeles Chargers’ 2022 win total: Best bet
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, May 18 at 8:34 a.m.. ET.
Over/Under: 10.5 (O: -135 | U: +110)
The Chargers are one of the darlings of the sleeper circuit to be the bold August prediction of greatness. Herbert is the goods. The offense is going to be fine and capable of putting up 30 on anybody. The concern here is that there is a defense capable of giving up 31.
I believe the Chargers have the Fouts/Coryell era ability to get into 38-35 games on a weekly basis. The problem is they may be 10 points down when the shootout begins more times than not. In the last 12 years, the Chargers have hit the Over on this number just once. Throw in the arms race within the division to chase down Kansas City, 11-6? I don’t think so.
TAKE THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AND THE UNDER (+110)
Los Angeles Chargers’ 2022 Super Bowl odds
Odds: +1500 (bet $100 to win $1,500)
If you’re on the Herbert bandwagon, this is your bet. However, this is more a Joe Burrow-style bet than a Matthew Stafford-style bet. Stafford took beatings in Detroit for a decade. Once he got a good team around him, he shined. Burrow rode a wave to the Super Bowl, but didn’t win. This bet isn’t who put himself on the map. It’s who got a chip. The Chargers aren’t that team in 2022. 2023? Maybe. Not yet. PASS.
Los Angeles Chargers’ 2022 playoff odds
Will Chargers make the playoffs: Yes -160 | No +130
Taking the Under on the gaudy 10.5 wins assigned should not be interpreted as a belief that the Chargers are going to be a bottom feeder. Far from it. Betting on them going 11-6 is a big ask. L.A. is a legit 10-7 team with a shot to take out the Chiefs as division king if K.C. takes a couple of critical missteps. In the betting world, 11 is a lot more than 10. Every extra win gets harder to come by.
You shouldn’t necessarily bank on getting into the playoffs unless it’s as a division champ, but the Chargers have enough horses to get the job done — even if it means winning a lot of high-scoring games to accomplish. It isn’t a strategy that wins Super Bowls too often, but it’s enough to get to the playoffs.
TAKE THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS (-160)
Odds to win AFC West Division
- Denver Broncos +260 (bet $100 to win $260)
- Kansas City Chiefs +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
- Las Vegas Raiders +600 (bet $100 to win $600)
- Los Angeles Chargers +240 (bet $100 to win $240)
Until otherwise notified, the Chiefs are the team to beat in the AFC West. However, the only team to do that on a regular basis in the division is the Raiders. The question hanging over the division is how much impact there will be of the Chiefs trading WR Tyreek Hill.
All 3 chasing teams made big moves in the offseason — really big — to give themselves a chance to take the K.C. out. The Chargers are given the best chance of the 3 AFC West rivals. Don’t bet the mortgage on it, but a sensible bet to get double-and-a-taste in return make sense.
TAKE THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS TO WIN THE AFC WEST (+240)
Odds to win AFC
Odds: +750 (bet $100 to win $750)
At the end of the day, the Chargers are using 2022 to build to 2023. They are likely going to get into the playoffs, which should come close to filling the good seats in their stadium. But if you think they’re going to the Super Bowl, you may a little hasty. The last time the Chargers won the AFC title was in 1994 and the drought has gotten worse with time.
This team may have its day. But it won’t be in February 2023. PASS.
Want some action on the 2022 NFL season? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Access more NFL coverage:
BetFTW | TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]