Chargers vs. Lions, 9/15/19 NFL Week 2 Betting Predictions

Chargers vs. Lions Week 2 Prediction

After blowing a two-score lead in the fourth quarter of a tie against the Cardinals in Week 1, the Lions will play their home opener on Sunday versus the Chargers at 1:00 p.m. ET. Given how banged-up the Bolts are coming in, will the Lions pull off the small upset?

Game Snapshot

263 Los Angeles Chargers (-1.5) at 264 Detroit Lions (+1.5); O/U 47

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019

Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Public Betting Trends

According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Chargers are receiving 68% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.

Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Spin

Coach Anthony Lynn told reporters Friday that Mike Williams (knee, questionable) is a game-time decision for the Chargers' Week 2 matchup against the Lions. Lynn specifically noted, "I just need to see that he can go out and play, and not hurt himself ... He has a couple more days, so we'll go day by day." Lynn also didn't reject the idea that Williams could be on a snap count if active. Williams is incredibly difficult to trust this week in any fantasy format. Expected the Chargers' passing game to heavily flow through Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler with Hunter Henry (knee, out) and potentially Williams sidelined.

Detroit Lions Fantasy Spin

Lions LT Taylor Decker (back) is questionable for the team's Week 2 matchup against the Chargers. The absence of Decker would be brutal news for the prospects of the Lions' passing game against one of the league's best pass-rushing duos in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. A better pass blocker than ground-game mover, Decker finished last season as PFF's No. 32 overall tackle among 62 qualified players.

NFL Betting Trends

Los Angeles

The Chargers are 5-0 against the spread in their last five games coming off an ATS loss and are 7-1 against the number in their last eight road matchups.

Detroit

The Lions are 1-4 against the spread in their last five home games and are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games when facing an opponent that has a winning record.

Prediction

I’m trying not to have recency bias when it comes to this game but I can’t help thinking about how the Lions blew what should have been an easy win last Sunday in Arizona. They had the Cardinals on the ropes but couldn’t deliver the knock out punch and while they did tie, they had to settle for a sister-kisser instead of posting their first victory of the season. Banged up or not, I trust the Chargers more than the Lions and with this game likely to come down to the wire, I’d rather back the Bolts instead of hoping Detroit doesn’t invent a new way to lose a game. Plus, the Chargers are 5-1 against the spread in the last six meetings between these two teams and they have the depth to overcome some of their injuries.

NFL Week 2 Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers -1.5