NFL Week 15 Picks: San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos

San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
Thursday, 12/12/13, 8:25 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Denver -10.5
Current Betting Line: Denver -10
Opening Total: 52.5
Current Total: 55.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The San Diego Chargers are double-digit road underdogs against the Denver Broncos Thursday

San Diego has alternated wins and losses over its last four games, as it comes off a 37-14 victory over the New York Giants as four-point home favorites in Week 14, while going OVER the betting total of 47. The Chargers scored on seven of their 10 offensive possessions, which was helped by running back Ryan Mathews running the ball a career-high 29 times, which is important to consider when making your NFL betting picks. Quarterback Philip Rivers benefited from the balanced attack—posting a season-high 137.4 passer rating. San Diego is 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS in the last four weeks of the regular season the last two-plus seasons.

The Chargers broke up a season-high 11 passes and intercepted two others against the Giants, while finishing the game with a season-high three takeaways. San Diego won the time-of-possession battle, 36:56 to 23:04, which can’t be ignored when looking over the pro football odds page. Rivers needs to throw for four more scores to record his third-career 30-touchdown season.

Denver has won five of its last six games, including a 51-28 victory over the Tennessee Titans as 13-point home favorites Sunday, while going OVER the betting total for a third consecutive affair. The Broncos have won 10 consecutive games against AFC West opponents, which has played a major part in the team’s one-game lead over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West division standings. The franchise is the first one in league history with four players scoring at least 10 touchdowns. Denver is 4-1 SUATS as home favorites of 7.5 to 10 points the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 4-1 in that situation.

The Broncos lead all teams in averaging 39.6 points and 465.6 yards per game, with the offensive line playing a big role in that success—allowing just 15 sacks on the season. Denver has scored 61 offensive touchdowns on 168 possessions through 14 weeks this season, which leads to a league-high 36.3 percent rate in that statistical category. Quarterback Peyton Manning’s 45 touchdown passes are six shy of Tom Brady’s single-season record that was set in 2007.