Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. 49ers?

Find out who national pundits are favoring in the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers.

The Los Angeles Chargers are 7.5-point underdogs to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10 of the 2022 regular season. The over/under is 45.5 points, per Tipico Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 45.5 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 28-21 win for the 49ers, with a combined total of 49 points. So if I were putting money behind my prediction, I’d bet the over.

As for game picks, analysts favor Kyle Shanahan’s Niners in this primetime showdown.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) 49ers
Jarrett Bell (USA Today) 49ers
Mike Clay (ESPN) 49ers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) 49ers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) 49ers
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Chargers
Gregg Rosenthal (NFL Media) 49ers
Bleacher Report 49ers

Sunday’s game will begin at 5:20 p.m. PT and will be televised on NBC.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Broncos?

Find out who national pundits are favoring in the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos.

The Los Angeles Chargers are 4.5-point favorites over the Denver Broncos in Week 6 of the 2022 regular season. The over/under is 45.5 points, per Tipico Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 45.5 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 27-14 win for the Bolts, with a combined total of 41 points. So if I were putting money behind my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts favor Justin Herbert and the Chargers in this one.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chargers
Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Chargers
Gregg Rosenthal (NFL Media) Chargers
Bleacher Report Chargers

Monday’s game will begin at 5:15 p.m. PT and will be televised on ESPN.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Browns?

Find out who national pundits are favoring in the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Cleveland Browns.

The Los Angeles Chargers are 2.5-point favorites over the Cleveland Browns in Week 5 of the 2022 regular season. The over/under is 46.5 points, per Tipico Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 46.5 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 24-20 win for the Bolts, with a combined total of 44 points. So if I were putting money behind my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts slightly favor the Bolts in this one.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Browns
Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Browns
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Chargers
Gregg Rosenthal (NFL Media) Browns
Bleacher Report Chargers

Sunday’s game will begin at 10:00 a.m. PT and will be televised on CBS.

Projecting realistic stat line for Chargers RB Austin Ekeler

Breaking down how Chargers running back Austin Ekeler might do in the 2022 season.

After a hamstring injury sidelined him for six games in 2020, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler rebounded in a big way with a productive season that saw him set several personal bests.

Ekeler became a worthy Robin to Justin Herbert’s Batman. He led the backfield with 911 yards on the ground while punching in 12 scores, the latter of which was good enough for fifth among league rushers. He added 70 catches through the air, racking up 647 yards and eight more scores, which returned him to fantasy football glory. Most importantly, Ekeler remained healthy to play an entire 16-game slate, hit his career-best in rushing yards, and be crowned the league’s king for total touchdowns.

Even with the arrival of fourth-round pick Isaiah Spiller, Ekeler is the primary safety blanket for Herbert and a valuable weapon that will be asked to produce in various creative fashions. 

So what can Chargers fans expect Ekeler’s next season to look like?

Well, expect the rushing touchdowns to enjoy a bit of positive regression. With Spiller in the fold, Ekeler’s red-zone carries will likely decrease. If Spiller cuts into Ekeler’s early-down role, then it would certainly have an effect on the rushing numbers. With his longest rush going for 28 yards last season, Ekeler will need a fair amount of handoff volume to reach 1,000 yards on the ground.

But since Los Angeles added no notable receivers outside of retaining Mike Williams, Ekeler’s high-volume receiving duties are expected to be preserved. That means a lot of third-down work, where Ekeler will extend routes into the flat and test his quickness against linebackers that will look to eliminate him from the passing game. It’s a safe bet to assume offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi will develop plenty of scripted motion and predetermined reads to get the ball in Ekeler’s hands and let him make a play.

Ekeler came seven yards short of a 1,000-yard receiving season two years ago. A Melvin Gordon holdout allowed him to gobble up the majority of backfield duties. According to Player Profiler, Ekeler caught 92 of his 108 targets and averaged 10.8 yards per catch (first in the league). He ran 265 routes on 44.4% of the team’s passing plays.

Let’s compare that to his latest campaign. Ekeler ran more routes (393) on more plays (61.6%) than in 2019. He was targeted the most out of any running back in the NFL, and he racked up most receiving yards, too. Although his receptions “dipped” to 70, that mark still ranked second among running backs. 

The sixth-year back is being deployed more, which is allowing the Chargers to break open defenses and spread the ball around. While Ekeler is being force-fed less than his 2019 breakout, his numbers in the passing game are still grand enough to rank in the upper echelon of dynamic running backs. It helps when Ekeler is astoundingly good at creating for himself – he created 940 yards after evading the first tackle attempt.

Ekeler’s rushing totals should decrease a bit when factoring in Spiller’s gradual emergence. In turn, this may lead to him running over 400 routes and seeing more opportunities as a receiver. He might not score 20 touchdowns again, but Ekeler’s ability to succeed in virtually any role will be a nagging headache for defenses to keep track of.

A rushing line of 200 carries, 850 yards, and eight touchdowns seems reasonable. As a receiver, seeing Ekeler hit the century mark is not a total fantasy, but he will likely fall in between that and his 2021 season. Tab him for around 80 catches, 750 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Raiders?

Find out who national pundits are favoring in the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders.

The Los Angeles Chargers are considered 3.5-point favorites over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18 of the 2021 season. The over/under is 49.5 points, per Tipico Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 49.5 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 30-24 win for the Bolts, with a combined total of 54 points. So if I were putting money behind my prediction, I’d bet the over.

As for game picks, analysts are favoring L.A. in this one.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Raiders
Mike Jones (USA Today) Raiders
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Chargers
Gregg Rosenthal (NFL Media) Chargers
Sheil Kapadia (The Athletic) Chargers

Sunday’s game will begin at 5:20 p.m. PT and will be televised on NBC.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Broncos?

Find out who national pundits are favoring in the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos.

The Los Angeles Chargers are considered 6.5-point favorites over the Denver Broncos in Week 17 of the 2021 season. The over/under is 45.5 points, per Tipico Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 45.5 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 21-17 win for the Chargers, with a combined total of 38 points. So if I were putting money behind my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts are favoring Los Angeles.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Jones (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Chargers
Gregg Rosenthal (NFL Media) Chargers
Sheil Kapadia (The Athletic) Chargers

Sunday’s game will begin at 1:05 p.m. PT and will be televised on CBS.

Chargers vs. Giants predictions: Is this a trap game?

The predictions are in for the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Giants.

The Los Angeles Chargers are considered 9.5-point favorites over the New York Giants in Week 14 of the 2021 season. The over/under is 43.5 points, per Tipico Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 43.5 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 30-10 win for the Chargers, with a combined total of 40 points. So if I were putting money behind my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts are favoring Los Angeles.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Jones (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Chargers
Gregg Rosenthal (NFL Media) Chargers
Bleacher Report Chargers

Sunday’s game will begin at 1:05 p.m. PT and will be televised on CBS.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Bengals?

Find out who national pundits are favoring in the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals.

The Los Angeles Chargers are considered 3.5-point underdogs to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 of the 2021 season. The over/under is 49.5 points, per Tipico Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 49.5 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 27-21 win for the Bengals, with a combined total of 48 points. So if I were putting money behind my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts are favoring Cincinnati, with a couple taking the upset.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Bengals
Mike Jones (USA Today) Bengals
Mike Clay (ESPN) Bengals
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Bengals
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Bengals
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Chargers
Gregg Rosenthal (NFL Media) Chargers
Bleacher Report Bengals

Sunday’s game will begin at 10:00 a.m. PT and will be televised on CBS.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Broncos?

Find out who national pundits are favoring in the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos.

The Los Angeles Chargers are considered 2.5-point favorites over the Denver Broncos in Week 12 of the 2021 season. The over/under is 48.5 points, per Tipico Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 48.5 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 24-21 win for the Chargers, with a combined total of 45 points. So if I were putting money behind my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts are favoring Los Angeles.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Jones (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Steelers
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Chargers
Gregg Rosenthal (NFL Media) Chargers
Bleacher Report Chargers

Sunday’s game will begin at 1:05 p.m. PT and will be televised on CBS.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Steelers?

Find out who national pundits are favoring in the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Los Angeles Chargers are considered 5.5-point favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11 of the 2021 season. The over/under is 47.5 points, per Tipico Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 47.5 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 27-17 win for the Chargers, with a combined total of 44 points. So if I were putting money behind my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts are favoring Los Angeles.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Jones (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Steelers
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Chargers
Gregg Rosenthal (NFL Media) Chargers
Bleacher Report Chargers

Sunday’s game will begin at 5:20 p.m. PT and will be televised on NBC.