The NFL’s top passer, Philip Rivers (2,116 yards, 12 TDs), and third-leading receiver, Keenan Allen (601 yards, 3 TDs), will be on display when the San Diego Chargers (2-4) play the Oakland Raiders (2-3). The game will begin Sunday, Oct 25 at 4:05 p.m. ET and can be seen on CBS.
This will be the first matchup of the season for the division rivals. The Chargers have won three straight against the Raiders, dating back to the 2013 season. Kavell Conner led the Chargers defense in the last game, registering five tackles and one sack. Charles Woodson led the way for the Oakland defense, totaling 11 tackles.
San Diego is a four-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is 47 points.
The Chargers enter the game with a current record of 2-4 Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS) this season. San Diego will try controlling the game with its passing attack, which averages a league-best 346.5 yards per game. San Diego finishes home games strong, averaging 12 points in the fourth quarter. Mistakes and a lack of focus could be factors that benefit the Chargers in this game. The Raiders are one of the most penalized teams in the league with 8.8 flags per game.
As for their opponent, the Raiders have 2-3 SU and ATS records this season. Oakland should be prepared to rush the ball early and often this week. The Chargers defense has been ineffective at containing the run, giving up the league’s most yards per carry at 5.4. Switching gears to the Oakland defense, it has some favorable matchups that it may be able to take advantage of as well. Oakland’s third-ranked run defense has given its competition issues. Opponents have run for 83.2 yards per game against this terrorizing bunch. The Raiders could find weakness in the Chargers offense, who are one of the worst in the league with one fumble lost per game. The Raiders perform well in the second quarter, when they average nine points this year. Oakland should have minimal trouble returning the ball this week. San Diego gives up the most return yards of any team during home games with an average of 160.
Predictions: SU Winner – Oak, ATS Winner – Oak, O/U – Under
Notes
San Diego is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games.
San Diego is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Diego’s last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Diego’s last 9 games at home.
San Diego is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games at home.
San Diego is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Diego’s last 6 games when playing Oakland.
San Diego is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Oakland.
San Diego is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Oakland.
San Diego is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Oakland.
San Diego is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Oakland.
Oakland is 2-1 SU when leading at the start of the fourth quarter this season. San Diego is 1-0 SU when leading at the end of the third quarter.
Dating back to last year, San Diego is only 2-4 SU against AFC West opponents, while Oakland is just 1-6 SU against divisional foes.
Oakland is rated higher in the ground game on both sides of the ball. Its 27th-ranked rushing attack will face the 29th-ranked run defense of San Diego, while its third-ranked rush defense will look to contain the 29th-ranked run game of the Chargers.
San Diego has given up 26.3 points per game at home this year, which ranks it only 23rd in the league. Oakland has scored 23.5 points per game on the road (ranked 13th overall).
