NFL Football: Tennessee Titans VS Los Angeles Chargers Prediction, Odds and Preview - 12/18/2022

 

Game Time: 4:25 PM ET,  Sunday, December 18th, 2022

Venue:  SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California

Where to Watch: CBS, Paramount +

FanDuel:  Chargers -3, O/U 46.5

BetMGM:  Chargers -3, O/U 46.5

PointsBet:  Chargers -3, O/U 46.5

Titans: 7-6, 1st place AFC South

Chargers: 7-6, 2nd place AFC West

An AFC battle between two very even teams.  They have the same record, but not the same expectations.  The Tennessee Titans do not have a good offense AND they have Ryan Tannehill at quarterback.  That is a tough way to get through an NFL season regardless if you are in first place in your lousy division…. So the defense must be good?... Kind of.  No sort of.  The Titans defense is good in the red zone but they let a lot of teams get to that red zone to begin with. They are almost last in passing defense (by a fraction) and they do not have a good offense.  What the Titans do have is RB Derrick Henry… of course we know in big games a good running game does not beat a good passing game.  The Los Angeles Chargers make and break silent promises every year like clockwork.  That promise is about how wonderful the roster on paper will do.. They never seem to live up.  This year the Chargers are again led by one of the best young quarterbacks in the world in QB Justin Herbert.  Herbert can sling the ball!  Except they also are led by one of the most frustrated team doctors in the NFL.. the whole Chargers team has spent time on the injury list this season.  They go in, they go out.  The great betting opportunity here will be found in deciding who will succeed more… The good running team or the good passing team?… and possibly who will be more healthy com game time?

The Tennessee Titans are on a 3-game losing streak.  They used to be firmly in first place in the AFC South… but soon they could be firmly in 1st place of the lousy AFC South while also being .500 or below.  It is a sad state for the AFC South. They lost their last game to the Jacksonville Jaguars 36-22… They gave up 36 points to the Jacksonville Jaguars.  In that game QB Ryna Tannehill completed 25 of 38 passes for 254 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT.  RB Derrick Henry ran for 121 yards on 17 carries with 1 TD. 7 different receivers were hit with passes but no one broke 70 yards on the day. The absolute beating the Titans took was because of 3 lost fumbles.  2 by RB Derrick Henry and 1 by QB Ryan Tannehill.. Two guys who should not be Titans next season. Add to this offensive awfulness is some pretty bad defense.

The Los Angeles Chargers have won 6 of their last 10 games.  They last beat the Miami Dolphins 23-17… which was also a win ATS.  The Chargers started a conversation thought unimaginable a few weeks ago… Do the Dolphins need to replace Tua.. ignore the Dolphins wins and simply look at his play.. And yeah Tua is too small and doesn’t belong as a starter in the NFL. In the win Chargers QB Justin Herbert completed 39 of 51 passes for 367 yards and 1 TD… RB Austin Ekeler had 45 yards on 15 carries with 1 TD and the Chargers kicking game took it home.  The Chargers also have a bad defense, but that is often looked at as numbers accrued while defensive stars are out with injury.

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TEN: 7-6, 8-5 ATS, 5-8 O/U, 4-3 in road games.

LAC: 7-6, 8-5 ATS, 6-7 O/U, 3-3 in home games.

The Titans are 26th in scoring with 18.5 points per game, 29th in total yards with 296.9 per game, 29th in passing yards with 175.7 per game, and 16th in rushing yards with 121.2 per game.

The Chargers are 14th in scoring with 22.7 points per game, 12th in total yards with 357.4 per game, 3rd in passing yards with 272.9 per game, and 31sdt in rushing yards with 84.5 per game.

The Titans defense is 25th in defense of total yards with 365 per game allowed, 31st in defense of passing yards with 283.7 per game allowed, 3rd in defense of rushing yards with 81.3 per game allowed, and 12th in defense of points with 21.2 per game allowed.

The Chargers defense is 23rd in defense of total yards with 359.9 per game allowed, 13th in defense of passing yards with 212.9 per game allowed, 28th in defense of rushing yards with 147 per game allowed, and 28th in defense of points with 25.1 per game allowed.

Our prediction for Sunday, December 18th is….  Chargers 27 - Titans 13

 

The Chargers should be big favorites here… The Chargers have a great passing attack while the Titans are terrible at pass defense. Some of the numbers may be similar but that is only because the AFC South is such a cake walk for everybody including the Titans… but against real competition?... The Titans are just no good.  Bet on the Chargers to beat the spread…. That is the best outcome for everybody… and the Titans know it. Imagine if the Titans won this game and then had to pretend that Tannehill was a real quarterback for another year?!

 

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The Chargers are 6-1 ATS versus Tennessee since 1992.

5 of 7 of these games have gone OVER since 1992.

The Titans are 6-2 ATS in games where the line is +3 TO -3 this season.

The Chargers are 1-3 ATS as a home favorite this season.

Titans: QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Derrick Henry, WR Robert Woods, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, TE Kevin Rader, OT Le’Raven Clark, LT Dennis Delay, LG Aaron Brewer, C Ben Jones, RG Nate Davis, RT Nicholas Petit-Frere

Chargers: QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler, WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams, TE Gerald Everett, TE Tre’ McKitty, LT Jamaree Salyer, LG Matt Feiler, C Corey Lindley, RG Zion Johnson, RT Foster Sarell

Sunny. 65*, Humidity 38% wind 4 mph… and the stadium has a roof!  What is the excuse in Buffalo and Green Bay? The teams with the best weather in the country still want climate control in order for the fans to get the full football experience!  The NFL should take note.