San Francisco at LA Chargers Betting Preview/Week 2 NFL Preseason Picks
22 August 2021
San Francisco suffered a close loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, but the 49ers chose to rest most starters. This team is one of the favorites to win the NFC this season, and this should be a big bounce-back season.
Los Angeles picked up a win in the preseason opener against the Rams in an intercity matchup. The Chargers are still a year or two away from being a true playoff contender but are headed in the right direction.
The San Francisco 49ers are 4.5-point favorites on Sunday night, and the over/under is set at 34 total points.
49ers Looking at Lance
The San Francisco 49ers took quarterback Trey Lance in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he comes with plenty of potential. San Francisco will give Lance plenty of looks in the preseason to determine if he is ready to be the starter or not.
No matter which quarterback is under center for the 49ers, this is still a team that wants to run the football. San Francisco is not an explosive offensive team, but they can wear teams down with the rushing attack.
The defense is another great unit for San Francisco, and that group will play a role in this game as well. San Francisco slowed down the mighty Chiefs in Week 1 and will look to do the same against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Chargers Need More Defense
The Los Angeles Chargers are going to be able to put up some points this season, but getting stops is going to remain a challenge. Los Angeles was solid on that side of the ball in the preseason opener, but they will be tasked with stopping the run on Sunday night.
Quarterback Justin Herbert has proven that he has the talent that it takes to lead this franchise. Don't expect to see Herbert on the field much, if at all, on Sunday, and that's going to be a big blow to this offense.
This game does mean more to the Chargers, but they are also overmatched.
San Francisco Sneaks Past Chargers
Both teams played in low-scoring games in Week 1, but there should be more offense this time around. Each team has some talented pieces on offense, and the playbook will start to open up a bit more.
Los Angeles is a team that still has some things to figure out, and that's going to come into play on Sunday night. San Francisco should be one of the better teams in football this season, and they will look sharp against Los Angeles.
Bet the San Francisco 49ers -4.5 as they find a way to defeat their in-state rival by a touchdown at least, and the over 34 points in the right pick as well.
Here are all of the NFL Week 2 Preseason picks from Dunkel:
August 19
New England at Philadelphia
Time: 7:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: New England 119.913; Philadelphia 121.549
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 1 ½; 34
Vegas Line & Total: New England by 1 ½; 38 ½
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (+1 ½); Under
August 20
Kansas City at Arizona
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City 122.625; Arizona 116.116
Dunkel Line & Total: Kansas City by 6 ½; 47
Vegas Line & Total: Kansas City by 2 ½; 41
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (-2 ½); Over
Cincinnati at Washington
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 114.676; Washington 122.531
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 8; 31
Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 4 ½; 34 ½
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-4 ½); Under
August 21
Buffalo at Chicago
Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 124.119; Chicago 121.347
Dunkel Line & Total: Buffalo by 3; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 4 ½; 37
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+4 ½); Over
NY Jets at Green Bay
Time: 4:25 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: NY Jets 115.342; Green Bay 119.604
Dunkel Line & Total: Green Bay by 4 ½; 29
Vegas Line & Total: NY Jets by 1 ½; 34
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (+1 ½); Under
Baltimore at Carolina
Time: 7:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore 130.703; Carolina 121.192
Dunkel Line & Total: Baltimore by 9 ½; 32
Vegas Line & Total: Baltimore by 3; 35 ½
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-3); Under
Atlanta at Miami
Time: 7:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 117.715; Miami 115.639
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 2; 31
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 5; 37 ½
Pick: Atlanta (+5); Under
Detroit at Pittsburgh
Time: 7:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 115.185; Pittsburgh 127.181
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 12; 33
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 6 ½; 37 ½
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-6 ½); Under
Tennessee at Tampa Bay
Time: 7:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee 117.949; Tampa Bay 124.480
Dunkel Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 6 ½; 29
Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 2 ½; 37
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-2 ½); Under
Indianapolis at Minnesota
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Indianapolis 121.402; Minnesota 116.336
Dunkel Line & Total: Indianapolis by 5; 40
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 2 ½; 37
Dunkel Pick: Indianapolis (+2 ½); Over
Houston at Dallas
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 113.642; Dallas 123.254
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 9 ½; 32
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 4; 37 ½
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-4); Under
Denver at Seattle
Time: 10:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 128.913; Seattle 119.938
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 9; 32
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 6; 37
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-6); Under
Las Vegas at LA Rams
Time: 10:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Las Vegas 120.695; LA Rams 120.008
Dunkel Line & Total: Las Vegas by 1; 38
Vegas Line & Total: Las Vegas by 7; 35
Dunkel Pick: LA Rams (+7); Over
August 22
NY Giants at Cleveland
Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: NY Giants 122.635; Cleveland 120.972
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Giants by 1 ½; 38
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 6 ½; 35 ½
Dunkel Pick: NY Giants (+6 ½); Over
San Francisco at LA Chargers
Time: 7:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 125.660; LA Chargers 115.240
Dunkel Line & Total: San Francisco by 10 ½; 39
Vegas Line & Total: San Francisco by 4 ½; 34
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-4 ½); Over
Jacksonville at New Orleans
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Jacksonville 107.002; New Orleans 123.902
Dunkel Line & Total: New Orleans by 17; 33
Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 4 ½; 38 ½
Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (-4 ½); Under
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