Betting Preview
Game Details
- Who: Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans
- When: Sunday, Sept. 17 (Week 2)
- Time: 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Nissan Stadium (Nashville, TN)
Betting Odds Summary
- Moneyline: Chargers -138, Titans +118
- Spread: Chargers -3 (+100), Titans +3 (-122)
- Total: Over/Under 45.5 (-105/-115)
Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. Subject to change.
A thrilling Week 1 of the 2023 NFL schedule left fans of all 32 franchises with several things to look forward to as the year progresses. In Week 2, the Los Angeles Chargers head to Nashville to clash with the Tennessee Titans after a tough 36-34 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Titans will also seek their first win of the 2023 campaign following a tightly contested 16-15 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The race to Super Bowl LVIII is underway, and LA can close the gap on a +2200 futures line to become NFL champions. Tennessee has more to prove, however, sitting at +7500.
Chargers-Titans Moneyline
The Chargers shouldn’t have trouble getting their first 2023 win here and cashing the moneyline. Kellen Moore’s high-powered offense. helmed by fourth-year quarterback Justin Herbert, has proven capable of putting up points against the best defenses.
Despite the team’s continuous defensive worries, Tennessee’s rocky play from veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill should be a cause for concern. Tannehill threw only one touchdown against the Saints, along with three interceptions and 211 yards.
The integration of new wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will only improve throughout the season. At this stage in his career, however, Tannehill might not be able to keep up in the type of shootouts that Los Angeles loves to play.
The Titans’ defense did manage to have some success last week, sacking Derek Carr four times and grabbing one interception. That said, the Chargers’ offense is far more talented and much tougher to defend with Herbert under center and all of their playmakers.
Chargers-Titans Point Spread
The Chargers’ -3 spread at +100 odds is the play to make in this matchup.
LA’s offense will show up, but the defense needs to prove it’s not a liability after costing the Chargers a win in Week 1, especially if Joey Bosa (hamstring) is unavailable. Tannehill isn’t much of a threat at this stage in his career, but stopping Derrick Henry is always a challenge.
This could potentially be one of those games where the momentum hinges on who gets the ball first. If the Chargers jump out to an early lead, it’s going to be difficult for the Titans to battle back. Even if Tennessee starts fast, however, Herbert is capable of scoring at will with his big-play ability.
Regardless of how this game unfolds, Los Angeles should be on top by the end and will likely win by more than a field goal. Getting the spread at plus-odds makes this bet even sweeter, too.
Chargers-Titans Over/Under Total
The Over/Under on this AFC showdown is set at 45.5 points, but take the Over in what could be a scoring frenzy.
The total perfectly reflects the game’s likely outcome, which should be fairly high-scoring. The Chargers once again have all the makings of being one of the highest-scoring teams in the league on offense this year. In the 2022 season, Los Angeles was eighth in points (391), averaging 23 a game. The Titans, on the other hand, were amongst the worst at No. 30.
Tennessee will surely get more comfortable using Hopkins as the season progresses, and Tannehill will look his way often in what should be a pass-heavy game.
31-17 feels like a solid score prediction for a Chargers victory this weekend. Herbert and Austin Ekeler will keep LA’s offense humming, while Henry will keep the chains moving for the Titans and put them into scoring position. Regardless, the punters should find themselves relaxing in this one with minimal jogs onto the field.
Chargers-Titans Player Prop
Herbert and Henry will be the focal points of their respective offenses, leading to the recommended player props of Herbert Over 1.5 passing touchdowns (-160) and Henry Over 85.5 rushing yards (-115) at DraftKings Sportsbook.
The Titans will need to rely heavily on Henry in this game if they want to have a chance. Although they struggled to get consistent drives going in Week 1, Henry still racked up 73 yards on the ground off 17 attempts. Workhorse running backs have become a dying breed in the NFL over the years, but Henry has been one of the most reliable options at his position.
Surprisingly, Herbert only scored once through the air against Miami despite the game’s back-and-forth nature. In Week 2, his dynamic wide receiver pairing of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams will be able to break away from defenders when past the 50-yard line, resulting in big gains and scores.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
