Betting expert @SBJohn12 previews this week’s NFL TNF matchup and gives out his favorite bets!
Week 15 is upon us, somehow, and Roger is bringing us an AFC West showdown between the San Diego to Los Angeles Chargers and the Oakland to Los Angeles to Oakland to Las Vegas Raiders. LA is coming off a rare win, coming from behind and walking it off on a FG against Atlanta, improving to 3-7 in one score games. Las Vegas has been in a tailspin since Pat Mahomes ripped their heart out on national TV three weeks ago. They got pantsed by those same Falcons, accepting a gift from Gregg Williams and the tanking Jets, and getting pantsed again by the Colts. One of these teams has to win somehow, so let’s make ‘em play on a short week, why not!
The Chargers have gotten Lynn’d all year, blowing lead after lead all year. They clearly have a special young talent at QB in Justin Herbert, and they somewhat stumbled upon that too after a team doctor stabbed Tyrod Taylor in the lung. Herbert is going to get a chance to face a team that’s only had one practice with a new defensive coordinator, after the Raiders fired Paul Guenther Monday morning. Los Angeles outgained Las Vegas by 120 yards in their first meeting and ended up losing on an overturned TD with no time remaining. The Chargers should be able to exploit some mismatches tonight, with four Raiders defensive starters out.
Las Vegas still has an outside shot at a playoff spot, but they’re going to need some help. A game and a tiebreaker back of Miami and Baltimore for the last playoff spot, it’s looking unlikely the Raiders will make their second playoff appearance in the last 18 years. As mentioned earlier, Las Vegas’ defense has been a disgrace, allowing 6 YPP, 50% of 3rd downs to be converted, and 65% of red zone entries to turn into TDs. So, you can see why Guenther was let go! In steps retread Rod Marinelli to try to patch something together for the home stretch. Derek Carr has had a decent year, leading the Raiders to the best 3rd down offense in the league. If the Raiders are going to pull off the sweep and keep their playoff hopes alive, it’s going to hinge on which Derek Carr shows up tonight.
We got to witness one hell of a game last Monday Night. And straight from the bowels of hell, Lamar Jackson comes back in from the locker to pinch off the Browns, flushing their AFC North title hopes. Thoughts and prayers to whoever opted to take the +3 as well, what an absolute nightmare that beat was.
Thursday Night Football Bets
Over 52.5 -110
Chargers 1h Team Total Over 10.5 -130
Season Total: 29-30-2, -1.42x
