Chargers vs Broncos Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for Week 18 (Los Angeles Sweeps Season Series in Low-Scoring Tilt)

Chargers vs Broncos Week 18 Game Info

2022 NFL Regular Season Game
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, 5-3 Away) vs. Denver Broncos (4-12, 3-4 Home)
Date: Sunday, Jan. 8, 2022
Time: TBD
Venue: Empower Field at Mile High — Denver, CO
Coverage: TBD

Week 18 of the 2022 NFL season features a handful of exciting matchups, including an AFC West collision between the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos.

The Chargers have hit their stride when it's mattered the most, defeating the LA Rams 31-10 over the weekend to pick up their fourth consecutive win. Meanwhile, the Broncos seek to end their disastrous campaign on a high note after falling 27-24 to the rival Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17.

Can the Chargers ride into the playoffs with another win under their belt? Or will the Broncos find a way to give their fans hope heading into the 2023 season?

Chargers vs Broncos Odds & Spread

All NFL betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
Moneyline: LAC (+138) | DEN: (-164)
Spread: LAC: +3 (-105) | DEN: -3 (-115)
Total: 39.5 —Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

The Broncos enter this contest as slight home favorites on the moneyline and spread on FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This AFC West matchup also features an over/under of 39.5, which is among Week 18's lowest totals.

Chargers vs Broncos Prediction & Pick

It's hard to predict exactly what we'll see from the Chargers this weekend. If the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles automatically gets the AFC's No. 5 seed. Due to this scenario, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley told reporters Wednesday that if the Bengals win, he'll consider resting his starters.

The only way I see the Broncos winning this one is if the Chargers' first-stringers get the game off. Denver has been putrid this season and I don't see the team completely turning things around just because they want to give the hometown fans something to cheer about.

The Chargers have also won three of their last four games against the Broncos and have recent momentum on their side. Even if some of the starters are rested, the Chargers are good enough to pick up the win.

Final Score Prediction: Chargers: 21 | Broncos: 16

Chargers vs Broncos Betting Trends

- The Chargers are 6-2-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last nine games.
- Denver is 1-7 straight up in its last eight games.
- The total has hit the under in four of the Chargers' last five games.
- The total has hit the under in seven of Denver's last 10 games against the Chargers.

Chargers vs Broncos Best Bet

Playing at home can't even help the Broncos, who have lost four of their last five games in the Mile High City. Meanwhile, the Chargers have won five of their last seven road games and are 6-2 ATS in their last eight on the road.

With the Broncos giving bettors little reason to believe in them this season, I expect the Chargers to pull off an upset.

Bet: Chargers ML (-105)

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.