2013 Record: 9-7

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 8.0

2014 Season Win Total Prediction: 'Under'

San Diego was a surprise playoff team in Mike McCoy's rookie coaching season. They snapped a three-year streak of failing to live up to their preseason wins expectations and even won their first postseason game since 2008. As a result they won't be sneaking up on anyone this year and will have to scrap their way to another winning season.

Phillip Rivers had a huge bounce back year and proved again that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL that no one talks about. Keenan Allen looks like one of the best young receivers in the league and the Chargers boasted a Top 10 offense for the fourth time in five years. However they did lose offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and I don't think the Chargers did enough to bolster a defense that benefitted from a lucky 16.9 yards per point.

The Chargers closed last season winning five of their last six games, including a sweep of Kansas City. San Diego took advantage of a December that saw them play four of five games at home. They have a similar late-season benefit this year; following their Week 10 bye the Chargers will play four of five games on their own turf. But that stretch does include back-to-back big games with New England and Denver followed by a trip up the coast to take on in-state rival San Francisco on a short week.

The good news for San Diego is that they only have three cross-country trips resulting in 10 a.m. PST start times. The bad news is that the Chargers crossover against the toughest division in football, the NFC West.

I think San Diego will regress a bit in McCoy's second season. At one point last year they were just 4-6 despite only facing three eventual playoff teams. And the only reason they made the playoffs was because the Chiefs decided to rest their starters in Week 17. (San Diego needed overtime to win that one.) I don't see San Diego going 4-2 in the division again and I don't know that they will win more than three of their interdivisional matchups with the NFC West and AFC East. You can pencil in a win over Jacksonville but I don't see the Chargers winning at Baltimore.

On average half of the teams that make the postseason don't return the next year. I think San Diego is one of the teams that will fall back this year. Their first six games are crucial and if they aren't at least 4-2 I don't see them reaching nine wins again. I'll call for them to go 7-9.

Chargers Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

Week 1: Monday, Sept. 8, at Arizona, 10:20 p.m.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28, Jacksonville, 4:05 p.m.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, NY Jets, 4:25 p.m.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 12, at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 19, Kansas City, 4:05 p.m.

Week 8: Thursday, Oct. 23, at Denver, 8:25 p.m.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, at Miami, 1 p.m.

Week 10: BYE

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 23, St. Louis, 4:05 p.m.

Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, New England, 8:30 p.m.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, Denver, 4:05 p.m.

Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 20, at San Francisco, 4:30 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Robert will be releasing his 2014 NFL Futures Predictions on Thursday, Aug. 14. Last year's top two picks (8-Unit Play on Arizona 'over' 5.5 wins and 6-Unit Play on Kansas City over 7.0 wins) both won easily and he has hit his top NFL Futures Play (rated 7.0 or higher) in four straight seasons. For more information visit his Insider's Page HERE.

Robert Ferringo is one of the best NFL handicappers in the world and is coming off one of the best football betting seasons in the 43-year history of Doc's Sports. Robert banked nearly $8,000 in profit for his football clients and won a stunning 62.1 percent of his NFL plays (95-58). Robert has won over 70 percent of his last 58 NFL side plays (41-17) and has posted six of seven winning NFL seasons. He has banked $17,400 in football profit, college and pro, over the last 20 months and he is excited about building on his staggering resume. Take advantage of our free, no-strings-attached $60 credit to use toward a purchase of Robert's football selections. You cannot afford to miss out on this great offer - click here.

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