Los Angeles Chargers vs Cleveland Browns – Odds, Lines, Spread, and Picks NFL Week 5
By Chris Amberley in NFL Football
Published:
- Los Angeles is a 2-point road favorite in the Chargers vs Browns odds on Sunday (Oct. 9) in Week 5 action at FirstEnergy Stadium
- Star defensive end Myles Garrett will return to Cleveland’s lineup after missing last week’s game
- See the complete Chargers vs Browns odds in the story below, in addition to our favorite bet to target
Two teams coming off disappointing Week 4 showings meet in Cleveland on Sunday in Week 5. The Chargers (2-2, 1-1 away) enter play after nearly blowing a 20-point lead against the winless Texans, while the Browns (2-2, 1-1 home) were upset on the road by the Falcons.
Oddsmakers are siding with LA on the road in the NFL odds, but as of Friday afternoon, the big money bettors are in total disagreement.
Chargers vs Browns Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA Chargers | -2 (-110) | -135 | O 47 (-110) |
| Cleveland Browns | +2 (-110) | +115 | U 47 (-110) |
Odds as of October 7 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Claim the DraftKings Sportsbook promo code.
The Chargers opened as 2-point favorites, in a contest that features a total of 47. 71% of the spread bets are currently backing LA, but those tickets only make up 43% of the ATS handle. Conversely, the 29% of against the spread wagers on Cleveland represent 57% of the ATS money. That’s a strong indication that the sharps are on the Browns, as they typically bet much bigger than the public.
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Kickoff is set for 1pm ET at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, with CBS providing the broadcast coverage. The forecast currently calls for sunshine and 61 degree temperatures, along with wind gusts of 22 mph.
Los Angeles Chargers Betting Analysis
Like seemingly every year, the Chargers have been one of the hardest hit teams by injury so far this season. Star QB Justin Herbert is playing through busted ribs, while his top receiver Keenan Allen is slated to miss his fourth straight game. Left tackle Rashawn slater is on IR, leaving a rookie left tackle to protect Herbert’s blind side against a top-tier pass rush – more on that later.
Brandon Staley on Chargers' injuries to Joey Bosa and Rashawn Slater: 'This is part of the NFL. This is not uncommon in the league. You have to have a team that can absorb things like this happening and keep it moving'
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 29, 2022
Defensively, stud defensive end Nick Bosa is out for the next 8-to-10 weeks, leaving a gaping hole in the LA pass rush. Luckily for the Chargers, Cleveland chooses to play an archaic brand of football right now, minimizing the effect of Bosa’s loss.
After a rough first game playing through injury against the Jags, Herbert looked more like himself in Week 4 in Houston. He threw for a season-high 340 yards, racking up 2 TD and completing 69% of his passes. Austin Ekeler was the beneficiary of one of those throws, as he scored his first three touchdowns of the season.
Our fantasy hero Austin Ekeler is officially back 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Q7gwlxgDxL
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 2, 2022
Ekeler is coming off a 20-TD campaign in 2021, and the Chargers will need more production from him moving forward. Despite his breakout last week, he’s averaging only 3.1 yards per carry in 2022.
Defensively, LA continues to get abused by the run. They grade out as a bottom-12 rush defense per Pro Football Focus, while their pass defense is a top-11 unit. That spells trouble against a Browns team who is intent on running the ball at all costs.
Cleveland Browns Betting Analysis
Only Philadelphia runs the ball more often than Cleveland. The Browns are averaging 37 carries per game, and rank second in rushing yards behind the Giants. The Chargers should expect a heavy dose of Nick Chubb, who averages 5.7 yards per attempt and has five rushing TD already.
Nick Chubb. 💪
That's it. #Browns pic.twitter.com/b4TROk1CCY
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 7, 2022
Jacoby Brissett has been adequate under center so far, completing 65% of his throws, but the last thing Cleveland wants is for him to decide the outcome of the game. When he does take to the air, Amari Cooper has been his main target, but the 28-year-old was invisible in last week’s loss. Cooper hauled in just one catch for 9 yards, after seeing a combined 21 targets in his previous two games.
Defensively, this is a back-bounce spot for the Browns pass rush. Myles Garrett is back from his one-game absence due to a car crash, and he and fellow edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney must be licking their chops. They have a significant advantage over the LA offensive line, which should help slow down Herbert and Co.
Chargers vs Browns Pick
These two teams played to a 47-42 shootout last year in LA, but this game profiles as anything but a high-scoring affair. Cleveland is going to try and bleed the clock dry with their running game, and the Chargers defensive philosophy is too stubborn to stop them.
On the other side of the ball, the Browns pass rush is going to be in Herbert’s face all day, and his compromised mobility due to the rib injury could be an issue.
Myles Garrett says he’s feeling good, ready to make a difference Sunday; doesn’t think he’ll be hindered by shoulder/bicep injuries from the crash #Browns pic.twitter.com/KnRbSFnvEE
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) October 7, 2022
Also working in favor of the under is the weather. 22 mph gusts and 15 mph winds will slow down any passing attack, placing more emphasis on the ground game. Advantage Cleveland.
Picks: Browns +2 (-110), 1 unit, Under 47 (-110), 1 unit
2022 NFL Season Picks Record: 3-1, +1.76 units
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.
