The Chargers have ushered in a new era with Jim Harbaugh replacing Brandon Staley as head coach. The roster, especially on offense, has been slightly depleted, but Harbaugh has no doubt reinvigorated the fanbase.
Odds for the Chargers to make the playoffs are closer to even than many would think. Los Angeles is +114 to make the playoffs and -144 to go over its 8.5 win total.
Here’s what you need to know about the Chargers entering this season.
2024 Chargers Odds
Odds via FanDuel and as of Aug. 11.
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Super Bowl | +4000 |
| AFC Champion | +2100 |
| AFC West | +350 |
| Make/Miss Playoffs | +114 / -140 |
| Win Total | 8.5 (-144 / +118) |
2023 Chargers Betting Records
- 6-11 against the spread (-33.3% ROI)
- 5-12 to the over (-43.7% ROI)
Past Chargers Win Totals
| Season | Win Total | No. of Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9.5 | 9 |
| 2022 | 10.5 | 10 |
| 2023 | 9.5 | 5 |
Important Chargers Betting Stats
The Chargers have two QBs on their roster who have started NFL games in their career, and both of them saw action last year.
Justin Herbert is 32-30-1 against the spread in his career, while Easton Stick was 1-3 last season.
Jim Harbaugh, meanwhile, has an impressive track record for bettors. In his four seasons with the 49ers, Harbaugh was 42-27-3 against the spread.
Chargers Enter Their Harbaugh Era
The intrigue surrounding the Chargers begins with new head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Last football season, Harbaugh won a national championship with the Michigan Wolverines. He went to Ann Arbor after a mostly successful four-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers and he clearly feels like he has unfinished business in the NFL.
Everything revolves around Justin Herbert, as Harbaugh has made clear. The Chargers quarterback has his new contract and will be key to any success the team has in the near future.
The offense will look drastically different than past years. Harbaugh has reunited with offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who turned Collin Kaepernick and the 49ers offense into a juggernaut at times while Harbaugh was with San Francisco. Roman will implement a run-heavy approach with former Ravens RBs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards expected to carry the heaviest loads.
Notably, running back Austin Ekeler, wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and tight end Gerald Everett are all gone. The Chargers offense has some young talent at wide receiver with the likes of Josh Palmer, Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey, as well as veteran wide receiver D.J. Chark and tight ends Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst.
Johnston disappointed as a rookie, struggling after a fantastic season in 2022 at TCU. There are high expectations for McConkey, although injuries have already started bothering him in training camp.
In the run game, Dobbins and Edwards are proven NFL runners — as long as they can stay healthy, Los Angeles should be able to run the ball well behind former All-Pro tackle Rashawn Slater and this year’s fifth overall pick Joe Alt.
Still, Herbert is talented enough that it wouldn’t shock anyone if he comes out and has a career season despite the uncertainty and pessimism surrounding the Chargers offense.
Let's take a deep dive into the upcoming season’s performance of Los Angeles under Coach Harbaugh, a team that has seen some significant reshuffling in the offseason. The Chargers are setting up to be an interesting team to watch, with concerns around their pass offense, which tends to take precedence over rushing in power ratings for betting.
Defensively, the Chargers are led by a trio of veterans: pass rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and safety Derwin James. Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. was signed in free agency, as well, to help anchor the secondary.
How to Back the Chargers This Season
While Herbert’s numbers may go down this season, there’s reason to be optimistic for the Chargers’ long-term outlook. Los Angeles’ 8.5 win total having -144 juice to the over is a sign that people value the addition of Harbaugh more than anything that happened to the team this offseason.
The drastic changes that will take place in the Chargers offense going from a fast-paced system run by former coordinator Kellen Moore to Roman make the team’s betting outlook difficult to project. Monitoring that, as well as how competitive the team can be overall, will be something bettors will keep their eyes on early in the season.
2024 Chargers Schedule Info
The Chargers are tied with the Panthers for the 27th-hardest schedule in the NFL. Aside from their two annual matchups with the Chiefs, games against the Broncos and Raiders aren’t much to write home about.
Outside of Kansas City, the only playoff teams from last season that the Chargers face this season are the Steelers, Ravens and Buccaneers, with the latter two coming at home.
Los Angeles' Week 1 Odds & Matchup
The Chargers open their season against the Raiders, whose general manager, Tom Telesco, was fired by Los Angeles last year.
The Chargers are laying a field goal to Las Vegas. The game total is 42.5, which is tied for the fourth lowest of the week.
