Bettors Fading Resurgent Broncos Against AFC West Rival Chargers
Chargers vs Broncos Betting Trends: Denver 4-2 ATS in Last Six
After losing for the first time in over a month, Denver will look to build a new winning streak when it visits AFC rival Los Angeles in Week 14. Kickoff between the Broncos and Chargers is slated for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.
The Chargers opened as 3.5-point favorites and have mostly stayed there, only moving down a smidge to -3 (+100) as of Thursday. They’re also -150 on the moneyline. The Broncos are +3 on the spread and +130 to win outright, while the projected total is down to 44 from 45.5.
Here are some Broncos vs Chargers betting trends to follow before Sunday’s kickoff.
Broncos vs Chargers 
Day/Time:
Location: SoFi Stadium; Inglewood, Calif.
Streaming: CBS
Betting Trends
The Denver Broncos are 4-2 ATS over their last six NFL games but 4-7-1 overall, including 1-3-1 away from home. Denver’s gone Under the projected total in seven of its 12 games. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers are 5-7 ATS, including 2-4 at home. The Chargers have gone Under the projected total in nine of their last 10 games.
Remember these Broncos vs Chargers betting trends when assessing the odds.
Broncos Trending in Right Direction
The Denver Broncos’ five-game winning streak ended in Week 13 with a 22-17 loss to the Houston Texans. A 3-point underdog, Denver fell behind 16-3 in the third quarter and never recovered, failing to cover the spread for the second time in three games.
Even so, Denver still finds itself in the thick of the AFC playoff race at 6-6. Oddsmakers remain a bit skeptical, pricing the Broncos +300 to make the postseason. However, the team’s clearly trending in the right direction after a dismal start that saw it drop five of its first six.
Following a forgettable first season in Denver, Russell Wilson has rebounded under Sean Payton. He’s completed 67.5% of his passes for 2,385 yards and 21 touchdowns compared to only seven interceptions. Although Wilson’s averaging a career-low 6.9 yards per attempt (19th in the NFL), the lack of big plays hasn’t been overly noticeable. The Broncos averaged a healthy 23.9 points during their win streak and are up to 21.9 points per game for the season.
The Broncos have been favorable to bettors of late, with a 4-2 record ATS over their last six games. On the NFL season, they’re 2-3 ATS and SU as an underdog.
Lack of Confidence in Fading Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers snapped their three-game losing streak in Week 13 with an ugly 6-0 victory over the New England Patriots. A 4.5-point favorite, Los Angeles used two first-half field goals from Cameron Dicker to cover the spread for the first time since Nov. 6.
At 5-7, the Chargers are tied with the Las Vegas Raiders for last in the AFC West standings. Although, like the Broncos, they’re on the fringes of the playoff picture, the Chargers haven’t inspired much confidence in the oddsmakers. Case in point: Los Angeles is a +750 longshot to make the playoffs.
Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert is having another strong season, with 3,038 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and just six interceptions. However, a lack of reliable playmakers has held Los Angeles’ offense back. Receivers Mike Williams and Josh Palmer are both out with knee injuries, and Quintin Johnston, a rookie first-rounder from TCU, has struggled to pick up the slack. Los Angeles has scored just 36 points over its last three games.
As such, the Chargers have gone Under the projected total in nine of their 12 games. That’s tied with four other NFL teams for the fourth highest rate (75%) in the NFL. Be sure to keep that Broncos vs Chargers betting trends in mind.
Handicapping the Game
Palmer returned on a limited basis to practice this week, his first on-the-field work in over five weeks. That’s a positive development for Los Angeles, but he’s still unlikely to return this week. Thus, Herbert and the Chargers will need somebody other than Keenan Allen to step up on the outside.
Opponents are averaging 25.2 points against Denver, but the Broncos’ defense looks improved. That number’s a bit skewed by the Broncos’ 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 3.
Denver’s 13-6 SU in its last 19 road games against the Chargers. It’s certainly talented enough to build on that mark, making the Broncos one of the more interesting upset picks of Week 14.
For NFL odds this week, betting analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
