You can easily make arguments for each extreme when it comes to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023. They could be one of the best teams in the NFL, or they could miss the playoffs. Perhaps you could say that about a handful of franchises in a league that is so often marked by parity, but it really is true of the Chargers. They feature a rising star at quarterback in Justin Herbert and a dynamic running back in Austin Ekeler, but last season’s playoff collapse against Jacksonville is a blemish that is difficult to overcome.
Will Los Angeles bounce back in style from that disaster, or was it a harbinger of more disappointment to come? Let’s take a look at some of the odds and best bets to be made on the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023.
Los Angeles Chargers breakdown
2022 record: 10-7
2022 ATS record: 11-5-1
2022 O/U record: 7-10
Key players in: Eric Kendricks (LB), Nick Williams (DT)
Key players out: Drue Tranquill (LB), Matt Feller (G), Troy Reeder (LB)
2023 NFL Draft class: Quentin Johnston (WR), Tuli Tuipulotu (LB), Daiyan Henley (LB), Derius Davis (WR), Jordan McFadden (G), Scott Matlock (DT), Max Duggan (QB)
Los Angeles Chargers 2023 NFL season odds
Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Los Angeles Chargers Super Bowl odds
The Chargers are +2500 to win Super Bowl LVIII. That puts them tied at #10 on the list of favorites with the Dolphins.
Los Angeles Chargers AFC Championship odds
Los Angeles is +1300 to win the AFC, making it the #7 choice in between Miami (+1200) and Jacksonville (+1400).
Los Angeles Chargers AFC West odds
At +340, the Chargers are the second favorites to win the AFC West (Kansas City is -165). They are ahead of Denver (+550) and Las Vegas (+1200).
Los Angeles Chargers win total odds
The Chargers’ win quota is 9.5 games, with the over priced as a -120 favorite and the under coming in with +100 odds. They are +550 to finish with exactly 9 victories.
Los Angeles Chargers 2023 schedule
Week 1: vs Miami Dolphins
Week 2: at Tennessee Titans
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 4: vs Las Vegas Raiders
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: vs Dallas Cowboys (Monday)
Week 7: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 8: vs Chicago Bears
Week 9: at New York Jets (Monday)
Week 10: vs Detroit Lions
Week 11: at Green Bay Packers
Week 12: vs Baltimore Ravens
Week 13: at New England Patriots
Week 14: vs Denver Broncos
Week 15: at Las Vegas Raiders (Thursday)
Week 16: vs Buffalo Bills
Week 17: at Denver Broncos
Week 18: vs Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers 2022 season recap
The Chargers compiled a respectable 10-7 record, which was far back of the Chiefs in the AFC West but good enough to earn a wild-card spot. Unfortunately for Herbert and company, they probably would have preferred to miss the playoffs entirely as opposed to suffering the fate that would soon come their way. Los Angeles led Jacksonville led 27-0 with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter before collapsing en route to a shocking 31-30 loss. It was an otherwise decent 2022 campaign, especially for a couple of players. Herbert threw for 4,739 yards with 25 touchdowns, while Ekeler finished with 107 catches and delivered 1,637 yards from scrimmage.
Los Angeles Chargers 2023 NFL season predictions
As the odds suggest, Los Angeles is expected in the middle of the pack this season. That was the case last year and there has been very little turnover on the roster. In fact, arguably no other team in the entire NFL is heading into the upcoming season with such a similar roster to its 2022 version.
Here are a couple of my Los Angeles-related predictions for the upcoming season.
Best bet: Los Angeles Chargers under 9.5 wins (+100)
I had been thinking about a play on Los Angeles missing the playoffs, but at +105 there just isn’t enough value. The Chargers could go 9-8 and make the playoffs, so odds of +100 on under 9.5 is a much better option. I just can’t see his team digging its way out of mediocrity. You would have thought that following the Bolts’ playoff meltdown there would have been more changes made. Instead, head coach Brandon Staley survived that disaster and even the player personnel has remained almost entirely identical. The AFC West won’t be easy to navigate, either. Kansas City is the defending Super Bowl champion, Denver should make strides under new head coach Sean Payton and I think Las Vegas will be better than expected. All in all, give me the under.
Los Angeles Chargers season record prediction: 8-9
I’m looking at 9-8 or 8-9 as a landing spot for the Chargers. Given that it makes sense to correlate it with my pick of missing the playoffs, I will roll with 8-9. At +600, finishing with exactly 8 wins has enticing value. It is true that this team has a solid roster, but I simply don’t think it’s spectacular. From the coaching staff to the roster, Herbert is really the only guy I have complete trust in at the moment. He also isn’t enough for my expectations to be high.