After a road upset over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Los Angeles Chargers will return home for a high-profile Week 4 matchup on Monday Night Football. It's the 16th and final game on the Week 4 NFL schedule. Los Angeles is 2-1 this season, with the visiting Las Vegas Raiders entering at 3-0 behind quarterback Derek Carr. The Raiders needed overtime to secure a Week 3 win over the Miami Dolphins, maintaining their unblemished record.
Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. ET in Los Angeles. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Chargers as three-point favorites, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 51.5 in the latest Raiders vs. Chargers odds. Before you make any Chargers vs. Raiders picks, make sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up almost $7,900 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception six-plus years ago. It went a sizzling 24-14 on top-rated NFL picks last season, returning more than $800. The model also enters Week 4 of the 2021 season on an incredible 123-81 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season.
The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past five years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94 percent of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has simulated Chargers vs. Raiders 10,000 times and just revealed its NFL expert picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting trends for Raiders vs. Chargers:
- Raiders vs. Chargers spread: Chargers -3
- Raiders vs. Chargers over-under: 51.5 points
- Raiders vs. Chargers money line: Chargers -170, Raiders +145
- LV: Raiders are 2-1 against the spread this season
- LAC: Under has hit in all three Chargers' games this season
Why the Raiders can cover
The Raiders are above-average in scoring defense, allowing 24 points per game, and are holding opponents to only 355.7 total yards per contest. Las Vegas has allowed only two passing touchdowns across three games and are a top-eight team in net yards per pass attempt allowed (5.6). They have been efficient, including a top-10 mark in points allowed per drive (1.88), and the Raiders have been stingy on third down, allowing only a 33.3 percent conversion rate.
While there is talent at all levels, the Raiders are led in tackling by Denzel Perryman, who is top-five in the NFL in solo tackles (21) and top-five in the NFL in total tackles (36). With that defense joining forces with the No. 1 unit in total offense (471 yards per game) and passing offense (379.7 yards per game), the Raiders are playing at a very high level in the early going.
Why the Chargers can cover
The Chargers are underrated defensively, with a top-flight mind at the helm in Brandon Staley and talent at all levels. Los Angeles is No. 7 in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing only 20 points per game, and is creating a turnover on a whopping 22.2 percent of defensive possessions. Asante Samuel Jr. has been a havoc-creator in the secondary with four passes defended and two interceptions. The Chargers are No. 7 in the league in passing yards allowed, giving up only 202 per game.
On the offensive side, the Chargers find success through quarterback Justin Herbert, wide receiver Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams out wide, but they also have balance. Los Angeles No. 2 in the NFL in third down efficiency, converting on 54.8 percent of opportunities, and the Raiders are vulnerable against the run. Las Vegas ranks in the bottom 10 of the NFL in rushing yards allowed (120.3 per game), rushing touchdowns allowed (five), and yards per carry allowed (4.8), and is allowing points on more than 35 percent of drives in 2021.
How to make Chargers vs. Raiders picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 57 points. It also says one side of the spread cashes in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see which side to back here.
So who wins Chargers vs. Raiders on Monday Night Football? And which side cashes in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Chargers vs. Raiders spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up nearly $7,900 on its NFL picks, and find out.