NFL Preseason Week 3 Predictions: San Diego Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers

San Diego Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, 8/24/14, 4:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: San Francisco -5.5
Current Betting Line: San Francisco -5.5
Opening Total: 41.5
Current Total: 41.5
Odds Courtesy of 5Dimes

The San Francisco 49ers are the only NFL team without a touchdown scored in the 2014 preseason

San Diego has split its two preseason games, as it looks to bounce back from a 41-14 setback to the Seattle Seahawks as six-point road underdogs last week, while going OVER the betting total of 38.5. The Chargers have struggled to stop the run defensively, which can’t be ignored when making your NFL predictions, as their giving up a league-worst 5.58 yards per carry. The team is going to be challenged in a major way in this matchup, as San Francisco possesses one of the best offensive lines in professional football.

The Chargers first-team offense hasn’t scored during exhibition play, which means it’s important for quarterback Philip Rivers and his teammates to find pay dirt at Levi’s Stadium. San Diego led the NFL in third down conversions in 2013, which means that its looking to improve upon its 8-of-14 performance against the Seahawks. On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator John Pagano is looking for his players to tackle better and pressure opposing signal-callers in the final two exhibition affairs.

San Francisco has been outscored by a 57-3 margin in dropping its first two preseason games, while the UNDER has cashed in both opportunities. The 49ers kicked a field goal on their first offensive possession of exhibition play and have been blanked ever since, which is important to consider when looking over the pro football odds page. Bay Area fans shouldn’t panic, as starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been under center for only three drives.

The 49ers are trying to figure out if Blaine Gabbert is going to land in the No. 2 spot on the quarterback depth chart, as he’s completed just 11 of 25 passes for 60 yards and two interceptions with no touchdowns. San Francisco offensive coordinator Greg Roman is expecting a better performance from his group in this NFC-AFC matchup, especially since ts the only team in the NFL without a touchdown after at least two preseason games.