Chargers Season Win Total Prediction
The Los Angeles Chargers are receiving some pre-season buzz heading into 2018 but they’ve already suffered two injuries to key players. Will they win at least 10 games this season or fall short of their win total?
L.A. Chargers Betting Odds
According to oddsmakers, the Chargers’ win total for 2018 has been set at 9.5, with the over carrying juice of 10/11 and the under carrying juice of 5/6. The Bolts are also 20/1 to win the Super Bowl, are 11/1 to win the AFC crown in 2018, and are favored to win the AFC West Division at 7/5 odds.
Check out updated Super Bowl and Conference Championship Odds
Offseason Additions
The Chargers wanted to upgrade the interior of their offensive line so they signed free agent Mike Pouncey, formerly of the Dolphins. Quarterback Geno Smith was also brought in for depth behind starter Philip Rivers while tight end Virgil Green could see some action with Hunter Henry lost for the season due to injury.
The Chargers also went heavy on defense in the draft this year. Their first-round pick was safety Derwin James of Florida State and in the second, they tabbed USC linebacker Uchenna Nwosu with the 48th overall pick. In the third the Bolts took defensive tackle Justin Jones from NC State and in the fourth they selected another safety in West Virginia’s Kyzir White.
Offseason Departures
Even though Henry was lost for the season, the Chargers have yet to bring back Antonio Gates (although that possibility does remain). Gone too are running back Branden Oliver, guard/center Matt Slauson, guard Kenny Wiggins, pass-rusher Jeremiah Attaochu, linebacker Korey Toomer, safety Tre Boston and kicker Nick Novak.
Chargers Season Win Total Prediction
If the Chargers merely received better special teams play a year ago they could have been a playoff team. Undrafted rookie kicker Younghoe Koo missed kicks in each of the first two games that caused L.A. to lose by three and two points, respectively. Thanks to that slow start, the Chargers sputtered to a 3-5 record in the first half of the season before turning it on in the second to finish 6-2 down the stretch.
I’d like to believe the coaching also got better in the second half of the season as the Chargers started to throw the ball more on first down to open things up for the offense. If they allow Rivers to throw more on first down again this season, their offense should be more efficient throughout their entire schedule instead of just the back half.
Losing Henry was a huge blow, as was the loss of cornerback Jason Verrett (Achilles/IR). Still, the defensive additions they made in the draft should only add to one of the NFL’s better defenses in 2018. The Chargers do face a slightly tougher schedule than they did a year ago but the AFC is down this year and their division is theirs for the taking.
Backing one of the most snake-bitten teams to win 10 games is a leap of faith but this should be the Bolts year. They have an underrated quarterback, plenty of skill offensively, two nasty pass rushers and a defense that is solid from top-to-bottom. Special teams remains a question mark but I’m taking a flier on the over.
Los Angeles Chargers Season Win Total Prediction: Over 9.5