The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers meet at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night, and the betting market has already told an interesting story. San Francisco opened as a short road underdog. Now the 49ers sit as a one-point favorite, a spread flip that rarely happens in a preseason game. Both coaches plan to give their starters a brief look before the backups take over. That combination of a moving number and limited first-team snaps shapes our headline pick. Here is how we are betting 49ers vs. Chargers.
Last Updated: August 20, 2026
San Francisco 49ers vs. L.A. Chargers — Time & How to Watch
| Where | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA |
| When | Thursday, August 20 – 10:00 PM ET |
| TV | NFL Network |
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers Betting Preview
This is the second preseason game of the summer for both clubs, and neither result will touch the standings. San Francisco arrives 0-1 after dropping its opener to the Titans. The Chargers come in 1-0 following a win over the Texans in their debut. Both teams are using these snaps to settle depth-chart questions and protect their front-line talent.
Quarterback play sets the tone for how much these numbers mean. Justin Herbert will start for the Chargers and lead the opening series before giving way to the backups. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has said his starters will play one series and then come out. San Francisco is taking a slightly different approach. Kyle Shanahan rested 36 players in Week 1, but he now expects a number of starters to play, with Brock Purdy likely to take the first snaps.
The 49ers’ backfield is thinned out. Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo and Jordan James are all unavailable, so third-round rookie Kaelon Black is set to lead the group. That opens the door for younger players to log meaningful reps. The Chargers, meanwhile, will look to build rhythm with their first team before the reserves decide the outcome. Roster battles at cornerback and along both fronts give the backups on each side plenty to prove.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | -1 (-110) | -120 | O 37.5 (-115) |
| Chargers | +1 (-110) | +100 | U 37.5 (-105) |
Odds accurate as of August 20, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers — Who Is the Public Betting?
| 49ers | 36% | 64% | Chargers |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
49ers vs. Chargers Prediction — Who Wins Battle of Backups?
The most telling angle here is the line itself. The Chargers opened as a 1.5-point home favorite. The market then flipped the game, and San Francisco is now laid as a one-point road favorite. That move came even as the public leaned the other way, with 64 percent of spread tickets on Los Angeles. When a number moves against the popular side, it often signals sharper money on the opposite team.
The case for the 49ers rests on volume. Shanahan plans to play more of his front-line group after sitting nearly everyone in Week 1. Fresh, motivated starters getting extended looks can build an early lead that a deeper reserve unit then protects. San Francisco’s competition at running back and in the secondary also gives its backups a reason to press.
The case for the Chargers is just as real. They are at home, they won their opener, and Herbert gets the start behind a first-team line. A quick scoring drive on the opening series can swing a one-point game by itself. Preseason results also hinge on which reserves execute, and that is close to a coin flip. Still, the reverse line movement and San Francisco’s heavier starter plan tilt a razor-thin number our way.
The Pick: 49ers -1 (-110)
49ers vs. Chargers Prediction — Will Scoring be Limited?
The total tells its own story. This number opened at 39.5 and has been bet down to 37.5. Falling totals in the preseason usually reflect a market that expects choppy, low-scoring football once the starters exit. Both offenses plan to pull their first units early, and backup quarterbacks working behind reshuffled lines tend to stall. Preseason games are littered with punts, sacks and short fields that go nowhere.
The over is not without merit. Special-teams miscues, a long return, or a defensive score can push a sloppy game past a modest total in a hurry. Big plays inflate preseason scoreboards more than steady drives do. Even so, the two-point drop in the number and the limited starter workload point toward a quieter night.
The Pick: Under 37.5 (-105)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
For bettors who want the same read on the game with less variance, the moneyline is worth a look. San Francisco is only a -120 favorite, a price close to a coin flip. Backing the 49ers to win outright applies the same reverse-line-movement logic as the spread, without needing a one-point margin to land. The give-back is a slightly higher price for a bit more breathing room. If the starters produce early and the reserves hold, that is the cleaner path to a cashed ticket.
Bonus Angle: 49ers Moneyline (-120)
To recap, our three plays on 49ers vs. Chargers are the 49ers -1 (-110), the Under 37.5 (-105), and the 49ers on the moneyline (-120). Each leans on the same core reads: a spread that moved toward San Francisco and a starter plan that favors the visitors before the backups take over. As always in the preseason, keep the stakes modest, because reserve execution can turn any of these numbers on a single drive.
NFL 49ers vs. Chargers FAQ: Thursday August 20, 2026
What time does the 49ers vs. Chargers game start?
The 49ers vs. Chargers preseason game kicks off at 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT) on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at SoFi Stadium. It is the second preseason game of the summer for both teams. Pregame coverage begins earlier for fans attending in Inglewood.
What channel is the 49ers vs. Chargers game on?
The game airs nationally on NFL Network. Locally, it is carried on CBS affiliates, including KPIX CBS 5 in the Bay Area and CBS Los Angeles in Southern California. Out-of-market viewers can stream it with an NFL+ subscription, while in-market fans have team-app options.
Where are the 49ers and Chargers playing?
The 49ers and Chargers play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the Chargers’ home venue. San Francisco is the designated road team for this preseason matchup. SoFi Stadium also hosts the Los Angeles Rams and has staged major events, including a Super Bowl.
Who is starting at quarterback for the 49ers and Chargers?
Justin Herbert starts for the Chargers and will lead the opening series before the backups take over, per the team. Brock Purdy is expected to start for the 49ers, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan, who plans to play a number of starters after resting them in Week 1.