LA Chargers vs Las Vegas Raiders Prediction NFL Picks 1/5/25

Why the Los Angeles Chargers will win

• The favorites have won each of the Raiders' last 12 games.
• The Raiders have lost each of their last 10 games as underdogs.
• The Chargers have covered the spread in each of their last seven games as favorites against AFC opponents.
• The Raiders have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four Sunday games as underdogs.

Las Vegas Raiders Recap

The Las Vegas Raiders come into this game looking to finish the season on a high note after improving to 4-12 on the year thanks to a 25-10 win over New Orleans last time out. The Raiders will miss the playoffs for the third straight year and 7th in the last 8 seasons overall.

Raiders Continue To Hurt Draft Stock

Gardner Minshew has thrown for 2,013 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions on 66.3% passing while Aidan O’Connell has 1,398 passing yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 INTs on 62.2% passing. Desmond Ridder’s also thrown for 447 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions on 61.4% passing. Alexander Mattison leads the Raiders with 400 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns while Zamir White has 183 rushing yards. Brock Bowers leads the Raiders in receiving with 108 receptions for 1,144 yards and 4 touchdowns while Jakobi Meyers has 904 receiving yards. Tre Tucker has 515 receiving yards as well on the year. On defense, Robert Spillane leads the Raiders with 142 total tackles including 85 solo tackles while Maxx Crosby has a team-high 7.5 sacks. As a unit, Las Vegas’ defense has combined for 37 sacks and 10 interceptions so far this season.

Why the Las Vegas Raiders will win

• The home team has won each of the last seven games between the Chargers and Raiders.
• The Chargers have lost each of their last three January games as favorites against AFC opponents.
• The Raiders have covered the spread in each of their last nine games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• The Chargers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four road games played on the West Coast.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the Chargers' last seven games against the Raiders following a road win has gone UNDER the total points line.
• Eight of the Raiders' last nine games as underdogs following a road win have gone OVER the total points line.
• Four of the last five games between teams from the same division have gone OVER the total points line.

Chargers vs. Raiders Prediction

I’m leaning towards the Chargers for now, but that could change considering what happens on Saturday. If the Steelers lose, I think the Chargers go full out despite having clinched a playoff spot as they could still get the 5-seed with a win. If the Steelers win (which may not necessarily happen as Baltimore wins the division if they beat Cleveland leaving Pittsburgh’s result almost meaningless as they’ve already clinched a playoff spot), I could see the Chargers just resting key pieces to prepare for their playoff matchup the following week. I’m not backing the Raiders because I don’t think the Raiders want to hurt their draft stock any more than they already have in recent weeks, going from a team with good chances at the first overall pick, to one of five teams in a logjam at 4-12 and a 6th at 5-11 which could bump the Raiders to the edge of the top-10. Right now it’s the Chargers but it could be an under instead if they have nothing to play for. I’ll lean towards the Chargers here.