Chargers Gaining Ground on Chiefs in AFC West Odds as Minicamps Open
By Chris Amberley in NFL Football
Updated: April 9, 2020 at 9:25 am EDTPublished:
- The LA Chargers’ AFC West odds have been shortened from +250 to +175
- Their odds are slightly longer than Kansas City’s, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest LA should actually be favored to win the division
- Is there any reason to bet the Chargers at their shortened price?
The Los Angeles Chargers are a stock on the rise. They have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, and many of the smartest minds in football are predicting they’ll finally win the AFC West this season after a nine year drought.
Online sportsbooks appear to be equally as bullish on the Chargers, and have shortened their NFL Divisional odds from +250 to +175, trailing only the Kanas City Chiefs.
2019 AFC West Odds
| Team | 2019 AFC West Odds |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | -150 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +175 |
| Denver Broncos | +1200 |
| Oakland Raiders | +1600 |
*Odds taken 06/04/19
Both teams won 12 games in 2018, and although the Chiefs made a deeper playoff run, there’s an argument to be made that the Chargers are actually a more deserving divisional favorite.
LA is Loaded with Talent
LA was the only team in the NFL to rank top-5 in both ESPN’s offensive and defensive efficiency metrics in 2018. They have playmakers everywhere on both sides of the ball, and Philip Rivers is coming off his best season in nearly a decade.
Philip Rivers averaged 10.6 yards per attempt on play action — the highest rate in the league! pic.twitter.com/Zey92gPNGj
— PFF LA Chargers (@PFF_Chargers) June 2, 2019
They went 12-4, despite the loss of their best pass rusher, Joey Bosa, for over half the season, and they made significant upgrades to their defence for the second straight year via the draft.
2018: Chargers land Derwin James, 5th on the PFF Big Board, at pick 17
2019: Chargers land Jerry Tillery, 7th on the PFF Big Board, at pick 28— Gordon McGuinness (@PFF_Gordon) April 26, 2019
Jerry Tillery gives them a dominant interior presence , and Nasir Adderley will bolster one of the premier coverage groups in football.
The Chargers dominated in coverage and led the AFC West by a large gap in terms of team coverage grade in 2018! pic.twitter.com/pPps7POtnB
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 29, 2019
Their roster is as good as any team in the NFL’s, and unlike the Chiefs they didn’t lose any significant contributors from last year’s team.
The Chiefs Roster has Plenty of Holes
KC’s roster as it stands right now looks very different than the one that played in the AFC Championship game. Stud defenders Dee Ford and Justin Houston are gone, as is center Mitch Morse and wideout Chris Conley, while Tyreek Hill could be facing a lengthy suspension.
#Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill could still face discipline from the NFL. There’s a precedent for suspension despite no legal action. Commissioner Roger Goodell has the ultimate authority on league matters.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) April 24, 2019
They did add Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu in an effort to bolster a bottom-10 defence, but there’s no replacing an elite talent like Hill. The Chargers’ offense, meanwhile, will actually get a boost in 2019 thanks to the return of Hunter Henry from a torn ACL.
The best quarterback to receiver tandems in the #NFL for 2019 pic.twitter.com/YCp6cS0vtQ
— PFF LA Chargers (@PFF_Chargers) May 26, 2019
LA’s offense has the chance to be just as prolific as KC’s, and with the Chargers owning a massive advantage on the defensive side of the ball, their divisional odds should be much closer to the Chiefs than they currently are. The AFC West is a two horse race and right now all the value is on the Chargers.
Pick: Los Angeles Chargers (+175)
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
