NFL Football: Los Angeles Rams VS Los Angeles Chargers Raiders Prediction, Odds and Preview - 01/01/2023

 

Game Time: 4:25 PM ET,  Sunday, January 1st, 2023

Venue:  SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California

Where to Watch:  CBA, Paramount +

FanDuel:  Chargers -6.5, O/U 42.5

BetMGM:  Chargers -6.5, O/U 43

PointsBet:  Chargers -6.5, O/U 42.5

Rams: 5-10, 3rd place NFC West

Chargers: 9-6, 2nd place AFC West

An NFL battle for a city.  A true double home game.  These two teams share a city, share a stadium, and are both new to the 2nd largest City in America…. Relatively, new… although one was always close and one has been here before.  The Los Angeles Rams got an enormous head start for claim to the hearts and minds of Los Angeles NFL fans… They were here for a few decades before moving to ST Louis and then moving back. Plus the Los Angeles Rams have already won a Super Bowl… as recently as last year.  The Chargers are a team from San Diego that were sneered at upon their arrival… before SoFi stadium was finished the Chargers played their home games in a tiny soccer stadium down the freeway from LA.  They didn't have trouble playing to a packed house when the place only had room for just under 20,000 fans… That would be just under 1/5th of Jerry’s World in Texas.  Still the crowds in that tiny stadium were mixed… mostly fans of the Raiders, the Chiefs, the Bills… whoever the visiting team was. But now the Chargers finally have a chance to earn a few fans.  They make their home in the luxurious SoFi stadium in LA… and they have a young star quarterback… and they have a shot at the postseason if they can just keep winning.  Plus the Rams have fallen apart since the Super Bowl win.  What is the great betting opportunity?... Let’s check the numbers.

The Los Angeles Rams have won 2 of their last 3 games… coinciding with the addition of QB Baker Mayfield.  Baker is a winning Rams quarterback… so far. He had lots of fun last game when he beat the Denver Broncos 51-14… in fact the whole team had fun.  It was a route from start to finish… every player and every coach got to shine in Week 16!!  It all came at the end of a very tough season for all.  In that BIG win the Rams got 24 completions out of 28 attempts by QB Baker Mayfield for 230 yards and 2 TDs.  RB Cam Akers took 23 carries to 118 yards with 3 TDs.  The Rams defense pulled 4 interceptions off of Russell Wilson… in fact DB Cobie Durant (who noone has ever heard of) grabbed 2 interceptions, for 100 yards and 1 TD!!  The Rams will not have a day like that again for a long time.  Even if they get good again. The Rams pass rushers got 6 combined sacks without DT Aaron Donald even suited up!  It was a great day… but the Broncos are a broken football team in a way that the Chargers are not.

The Los Angeles Chargers are on a 3-game winning streak… winners of 6 of their last 10 games.  They won the last one against the Indianapolis Colts 20-3 which was also a win ATS.  In that game QB Justin Herbert completed 24 of 31 passes for 235 yards, 0 TD, and 1 INT.  The running game picked up the slack and got 2 TDs from RB Austin Ekeler.  Justin Herbert also lost a fumble.  A couple of kicks and it was done.  The Chargers beat the Colts with their defense… the Chargers defense has been better on paper than they are on the field all season long… because of injury… but at the moment lots of guys are returning to action… which could make the Chargers wayyyy more dangerous than anyone thinks.

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LAR: 5-10, 6-8-1 ATS, 6-9 O/U, 1-5 on the road.

LAC: 9-6, 9-5-1 ATS, 6-9 O/U, 4-3 in home games.

The Rams are 26th in scoring with 18.7 points per game, 31st in total yards with 281.5 per game, 25th in passing yards with 191.6 per game, and 29th in rushing yards with 89.9 per game.

The Chargers are 13th in scoring with 22.1 points per game, 11th in tidal yards with 355 per game, 3rd in passing with 270.1 per game, and 31st in rushing yards with 84.9 per game.

The Rams defense is 12th in total yards with 331. Per game allowed, 22nd in passing yards with 226.5 per game allowed, 5th in rushing yards with 104.5 per game allowed, and 18th in total points with 22.3 per game allowed.

The Chargers defense is 19th in total yards with 342.4 per game allowed, 9th in passing yards with 201.9 per game allowed, 26th in rushing yards with 140.5 per game allowed, and 22nd in points scored with 22.9 per game allowed.

Our prediction for Sunday, January 1st is… Chargers 23 - Rams 21

 

Bet on the Rams.  They won’t win but the Rams are fighting with Baker aMayfield at QB… plus the Rams defense is alive and even though technically in a road game… they will be sleeping in their own beds, dressing in their own locker room, and playing on their home field.  Bet on the Rams to cover that spread.  They will play with pride and keep it close.

 

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6 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER since 1992.

The Rams are 6-4 ATS as a road underdog of 7 points or less the last 3 seasons.

The Chargers are 1-6 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points the last 3 seasons.

Rams: QB Baker Mayfield, RB Cam Akers, WR Van Jefferson, WR Tutu Atwell, WR Brandon Powell, TE Tyler Higbee, LT Ty Nsekhe, LG Matt Skura, C Cameron Shelton, RG Oday Aboushi, RT Rob Havenstein

Chargers: QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler, WR Joshua Palmer, WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams, TE Tre’ McKitty, LT Jamaree Salyer, LG Matt Feiler, C Corey Linsley, RG Zion Johnson, RT Trey Pipkins III

Sunny.  63*, Humidity 52%, wind 9 mph.  Winter in Los Angeles.