Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders Betting Preview

Two old bitter division rivals meet in Las Vegas on Thursday night as the Raiders try one last time to save their season and keep their fleeting playoff hopes alive. On the other side, Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn is trying to prove that he is the man best suited to lead and develop rookie quarterback Justin Herbert.

The Line: Chargers at Raiders (-3.5)

The Raiders are the better team. And the healthier team. 

Despite their faceplant against the Falcons, the miracle they needed to beat the Jets, and last week's beating at the hands of the Colts, this is still the team to hand Kansas City its only loss.

The Chargers have been missing key players all season, are led by a rookie quarterback, and have one of the worst special teams units in the history of the NFL. They are already guaranteed a losing season, and along with Thursday's game against Las Vegas, the Chargers still play at the Chiefs. It's yet another forgettable season in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Chargers

At just 123.149, the Chargers are the 26th-ranked team in the Dunkel Index. With recent embarrassing losses to the Patriots and a four-game losing streak early in the season, their low ranking is deserved. 

For all the positivity that the future of Herbert brings, this appears to be another season of the Chargers coaching staff being disorganized and in over their heads.

But all of that being said, the Chargers can also look at this season as what might have been. In each of its three losses to its three division opponents, Los Angeles lost on the final play of the game. 

So, while 4-9 isn't close to being a playoff team, this is better than your average 4-9 team. But against the spread, Chargers bettors beware. Los Angeles has covered in just one of its last seven games.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders' Dunkel Index ranking is 15th in the NFL, and with 14 teams making the playoffs, it leaves them just on the outside looking in. That is where the Raiders sit at the moment, a game behind the final Wild Card spot in the AFC but behind two teams.

The stumble last week against Indianapolis - one of the teams they trail - may be too much to overcome. But the current seventh seed, Miami, is on the schedule in Week 16. So if Las Vegas can take care of business on Thursday, it does still have hope.

Take the Points and the Chargers

This game has last-second field goal written all over it. And with a spread of 3.5 points, that is enough to warrant a bet on the Chargers.

Los Angeles has a knack for losing on the final play of the game, and it will happen again in this one. And it will be the fourth straight game in which the Raiders fail to cover.

Raiders to win. Chargers to cover.

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