San Diego Chargers (-4) at Denver Broncos, Total 46 |
San Diego is leading the AFC West division and has avoided a slow start that has plagued the team over the past few years. The Chargers are getting it done on the defensive end, giving up just 297.8 yards per game, while allowing just 16.6 points in three wins.
It’s important to note that the team will be playing just its second road game, dropping a 35-21 contest to the New England Patriots as 6.5-point underdogs.
The Chargers won both meetings last year in this series, including a 33-28 win as five-point road favorites in the Mile High City, finishing the game with a 447-337 advantage in total yards.
San Diego has won eight of the past 10 games in this series, including three in a row, scoring at least 32 points eight times in the series since 2006, with an average margin of victory of 36-19.
Running back Ryan Mathews is becoming a star in his second year, rushing for a team-high 288 yards, while also catching 19 passes for 254 yards. He should remain fresh over the course of the season due to splitting carries with Mike Tolbert.
“If we can get him in that 24-to-25 carry range,” Chargers coach Norv Turner stated about Mathews’ development. “It’s going to help him.” The former first-round pick is on pace to gain 2,168 total yards.
NFL betting players will find that the Chargers are 2-4 ATS as a road favorite of 3.5 to 7 points, while the ‘over’ is 3-2 in that situation.
Denver is truly going nowhere and fans are starting to grow louder in wanting quarterback Kyle Orton to move out of the way and let Tim Tebow become the starter. The former Chicago Bears signal caller threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 49-23 loss to Green Bay, but was also intercepted three times.
Defending the pass has been a huge issue for the squad due to veteran cornerback Champ Bailey being out, giving up 1,001 passing yards the last three weeks.
Those numbers are not good when welcoming in San Diego star quarterback Philip Rivers, who has thrown for 18 touchdowns and just six interceptions in 11 career games versus the Broncos.
“We’re in a week-to-week, or a ‘What have you done for me lately?’ league, so right now, I think it’s fair to say that Willis is that guy,” Broncos head coach John Fox stated this week about the running back position.
Willis McGahee has rushed for over 100 yards in two of the past three weeks, leaving many to believe that he’s taken over the starter role from former first-round selection Knowshon Moreno.
Bettors will find that the Broncos are 2-2 ATS as a home underdog of 3.5 to 7 points, while the ‘under’ is 3-1 in those contests.
