2018 Los Angeles Chargers Season Win Totals Predictions and Expert Picks

2017 Record: 9-7

2018 Los Angeles Chargers Las Vegas Season Win Total: 9.5*

2018 Los Angeles Chargers Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Under'

The hype surrounding West Coast football teams in the NFL this season has been consistent and, frankly, a little confusing. The Rams are one of the favorites to win the NFC. The Raiders are getting attention because of the Jon Gruden hiring. The 49ers bandwagon is full.

The one West Coast team that has gotten the least publicity is the Los Angeles Chargers. But despite their relative obscurity compared to their California compatriots, I can't exactly say that the Chargers are undervalued or underrated coming into the season. They are the preseason favorites to win the AFC West and their season win total is the highest of the four teams in their division. The Chargers also have the fifth-best odds to win the AFC.

Am I missing something here? The Chargers haven't made the playoffs since 2013. And that was their only postseason appearance so far this decade. San Diego hasn't won 10 or more games since 2009, and they've topped 10 wins only four times in the last 23 years. Los Angeles hasn't exactly embraced this team. The Chargers are still playing in a soccer stadium that they can't even fill with their own fans, forcing the team to essentially play 16 road games.

A big part of the Chargers hype stems from their strong 6-1 finish down the stretch last year. However, momentum doesn't carry over from year to year. And only one of those six wins late last season came against playoff teams. And even that win, a 54-24 thrashing of Buffalo, was at home, against the weakest of the 12 playoff teams, and came against Nathan Peterman.

Sure, there are some things to be moderately excited about. Philip Rivers can still sling it. Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen bounced back from disastrous 2016 campaigns and are playmakers. The offensive line has slowly but surely stabilized. And on defense they have some stud youngsters in Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, and Casey Hayward.

But there are still a lot of glaring holes on this team. That line is aging. The depth is paper thin up front and at the skill positions. Their linebackers are awful. And this team just can't seem to avoid major injuries, with projected starters at tight end and cornerback already out for the year.

I think that this team is vastly overrated right now. They haven't impressed me this August, and I can't really understand why everyone loves this team to win the West. Remove Rivers from this roster and this looks like a four-win team. My metrics are conflicting as to whether Los Angeles will excel or regress, with positive turnover differential and defensive yards per point countered by their Pythagorean win number and their offensive yards per point.

The public sentiment is that the Chargers are players in the AFC this year. I've gotta see it to believe it. I'll go against the grain here and play Los Angeles 'under'.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past seven years, earning nearly $28,000 in total football profit. He has also posted seven of nine winning seasons (including back-to-back winning years) and produced 26 of 41 winning football months and an amazing 45 of 70 winning football months over the past decade. Robert has eight of 10 winning NFL preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 900 totals picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted three of five winning seasons. Robert is looking for a third straight winning football year and wants more profit this fall. SIGN UP HERE TODAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 3-FOR-1 FOOTBALL SPECIALS!

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