New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Oct. 31, 2021

Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The eighth week of regular-season NFL action will resume Sunday mid-afternoon with a compelling AFC bout between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers. Coverage begins at 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS.

Score Prediction

Chargers 24, Patriots 16

Best Bets

Under

Mac Jones (NWE/QB) Over 0.5 INT

New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers Predictions

After selecting former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones in the first round of the latest draft, the Patriots stumbled out to a somewhat underwhelming start with their new young signal-caller at the helm, considering Bill Belichick’s squad entered Week 5 sitting at 1-3 – with New England’s lone victory during that timeframe coming over the Jets.

New England has played solid football since Week 5 though, considering the Patriots head into Sunday’s matchup against L. A. boasting wins in two of their last three games – with their only loss across that span coming in overtime to the red-hot Cowboys (L, 35-29 OT).

On the other hand, Los Angeles barreled out an incredibly imposing start to the new year, as the Chargers picked up wins over the Chiefs, Raiders, Browns, and Washington across the first five weeks of the season – and reminiscently of New England, L. A.’s only loss across that window came in a tight matchup against Dallas (L, 20-17).

The Chargers looked like an utter disaster in their latest matchup though, considering Justin Herbert and company traveled to Baltimore as three-point underdogs against the Ravens prior to their bye-week – and got blown out by four touchdowns (L, 34-6).

I’ll take the under here, as the Chargers and Patriots have both scored 20 points or less in three out of six games so far this season – and I expect them to get caught in another competitive low-scoring bout this Sunday afternoon.

New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

The Chargers head into Sunday’s contest favored by roughly six points over the visiting Patriots, which is just the third contest New England has been an underdog in this year.

The total for Sunday afternoon’s affair is stationed just south of OU 50 at most shops – marking the third Patriots’ game this season with an over-under set above OU 44.

New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers Betting Resources

• Matchup: AFC East vs. AFC West
• Date: Sunday, October 31, 2021
• Venue: SoFi Stadium
• Location: Inglewood, California
• TV-Time: CBS - 4:05 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• Injury Report
• Super Bowl 56 Betting

New England Patriots Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 3-4
• ATS: 3-4
• O/U: 3-4
• ATS - Home: 2-3
• ATS - Away: 1-1

After drafting a new starting signal-caller in the first round of last year’s draft, the Patriots’ offense miserably struggled to kick off the season – highlighted by New England generating just 17.8 PPG on roughly 311 YPG across the first four weeks of Jones’ tenure with the team.

The Patriots noticeably stepped up their game the last three weeks though, considering New England followed up its dismal opening stretch with a competitive two-game split against the Texans and Cowboys – and then blew out the Jets by 41 this past Sunday (W, 54-13).

Los Angeles Chargers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 4-2
• ATS: 4-2
• O/U: 1-5
• ATS - Home: 2-1
• ATS - Away: 2-1

The Chargers’ first-half schedule was incredibly intimidating heading into the season, considering it’s only Week 8 – and L. A. has already faced a tedious gauntlet of opponents including the Chiefs, Cowboys, Raiders, Browns, Ravens, and Washington.

L. A.’s blowout loss to Baltimore clearly doesn’t pose as an overly encouraging sign moving forward – but the good news is, the Chargers have already moved through most of their schedule’s deep water, so it should be relatively smooth sailing from here.

The Los Angeles Chargers have covered the spread in five of their last six games when playing as favorites. (AP)

Inside the Stats - New England Patriots

• Record: 3-4
• Division Standing: 2nd - AFC East
• Points Scored: 179
• Points Allowed: 140
• PS/G: 25.6 (11th)
• PA/G: 20 (6th)

Inside the Stats - Los Angeles Chargers

• Record: 4-2
• Division Standing: 2nd - AFC West
• Points Scored: 148
• Points Allowed: 150
• PS/G: 24.7 (13th)
• PA/G: 25 (22nd)

Key Players to Watch

• NWE: Mac Jones - QB (174/247, 1,779 yards, 9 TD, 6 INT)
• NWE: Hunter Henry - TE (24 catches, 264 yards, 4 TD)
• LAC: Justin Herbert - QB (161/246, 1,771 yards, 14 TD, 4 INT
• LAC: Austin Ekeler - RB (73 carries, 356 yards, 7 Total TDs)

New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers Betting Conclusion

Despite getting blown out in Baltimore in their latest matchup (L, 34-6), the Chargers head back home for Week 8 favored by six points over the visiting Patriots – marking just the third time New England has been an underdog this year.

I’ll take the under here, as I expect the Patriots’ defense to keep things somewhat competitive for the length of this contest – but the current dysfunction of New England’s offense should ultimately catch up to them against powerhouses like the Chargers, which is why I’m also backing Jones to throw his seventh pick of the year this Sunday afternoon.

New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers Betting Trends

• Los Angeles has won six of its last seven games when facing the AFC.
• Los Angeles has covered the spread in five of its last six games when playing as the favorite.
• New England has gone UNDER the point total in six of its last seven games when playing as the underdog.
• New England has won and covered the spread in five straight games when facing Los Angeles.

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