While this matchup features some big names at the quarterback position, the key position in this game may be in the running back spot, at least for the Detroit Lions.
They will welcome the return of David Montgomery, and pairing him with rookie Jahmyr Gibbs could make the Lions’ offense elite.
Can the Los Angeles Chargers keep this one close?
Lions vs. Chargers Betting Lines, Start Time, and More
All odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Spread: Lions -3
- Moneyline: Lions (-148), Chargers (+124)
- Over/Under: 48.5
- Game time: 4:05 p.m. ET
- Location: SoFi Stadium
- Channel: CBS
Lions vs. Chargers Prediction
Except for a couple of hiccups this season — Week 2 vs. Seattle and Week 7 vs. the Ravens — the Lions have managed to live up to the hype and expectations from the preseason. And now, with Mongomery back to pair up with Gibbs, this offense could be getting ready to take off during the last half of the season.
Gibbs has been impressive this season, with a team-high 399 rush yards. Gibbs also has the third-most scrimmage yards in a player’s first six games in Lions history. The other two for the Lions are Billy Sims (914) and Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (569).
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While Gibbs racks up yards, Montgomery just keeps scoring touchdowns. Montgomery has six rushing touchdowns in five games.
This should help quarterback Jared Goff shake out of his mini-slump. Goff has a passer rating of just 76.9 over the last two games after posing a passer rating of 105.1 over his first six games.
While the Lions are looking for a division title, the Chargers may be looking for just a little consistency. This season, the Chargers have won two in a row, lost two in a row, won two in a row, and not have lost two in a row.
QB Justin Herbert, who is on pace to average a career-low in passing yards per game at 253.3, is coming off a win last week over the Jets in which he threw for a career-low 136 yards.
Defensively, the Chargers, who rank seventh in the NFL in rush defense at 89.8 yards per game, know how to put pressure on the quarterback. LA is second only to the Ravens in sacks this season with 31.
But the sacks aside, the pass defense is where the Chargers have struggled this season. No team allows more passing yards per game than the Chargers (286.0). And Los Angeles is also 31st in opponent yards per pass attempt (7.9).
And Goff just happens to rank fifth in the NFL in passing YPG at 271.8.
As for the injury situation, the Lions expect to have Montgomery back, as mentioned, but guard Jonah Jackson and center Frank Ragnow are off the injury report and should play Sunday.
The Chargers do not have any injuries to report and should be fully healthy for this game.
There are a lot of reasons to like the Lions in this spot. They are coming off a bye week, getting healthier, and are 5-1 against the spread as a betting favorite. Meanwhile, the Chargers have been a home betting underdog twice this season and are 0-2 against the spread.
But in this spot, I’m going to try and take the under. The Lions are turning into a solid defensive group and are allowing just 15.0 PPG in their six wins. The Chargers, on the other hand, have seen each of their last six games go under the total, with four of those six featuring totals of 48 or more points.
Best Bet: Under 48.5 (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
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