Chargers vs. 49ers Point Spread at San Francisco -1.5
Carrie Stroup here with your Chargers vs. 49ers spread, which had San Francisco as a -1.5 favorite as San Diego still has slim hopes of making the Playoffs.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (8-6) at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (7-7)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: San Francisco -1.5, Total: 42
Opening Line & Total: San Francisco -3, Total: 41.5
The Chargers head to San Francisco on Saturday for a game that they absolutely must win in order to keep playoff hopes alive in the AFC.
San Diego lost 22-10 as 4-point home underdogs against the Broncos last week and San Francisco wasn't much better, falling 17-7 as 9.5-point road ‘dogs in Seattle. The Chargers have lost two straight (SU and ATS) and the 49ers have dropped three consecutive games SU and four straight ATS.
This matchup will feature a pass-heavy San Diego team that still has a shot at making the playoffs going up against a San Francisco defense that ranks third in the league in passing defense. The 49ers, meanwhile, will try to pound the rock against a Chargers defense that is allowing just 108.6 rushing yards per game.
San Diego is 2-8 ATS after the first month of the season this year and 11-24 ATS when coming off a double-digit loss to a division rival since 1992. However, the team is 55-36 ATS in road games in the second half of the season, and 50-31 ATS in a road game where the total is between 35.5 and 42 points in that time.
RB Frank Gore (concussion), RB Carlos Hyde (ankle), NT Glenn Dorsey (forearm) and LB Chris Borland (ankle) are among many players questionable for the 49ers, while WR Keenan Allen (ankle) and LB Donald Butler (elbow) are both doubtful for the Chargers, while teammates RB Ryan Mathews (ankle) and TE Ladarius Green (concussion) are both questionable.
The Chargers have dropped two straight contests and will now need to win a difficult matchup in San Francisco in order to stay alive in the playoff hunt. QB Philip Rivers (3,639 pass yards, 27 TD, 13 INT) struggled against the Broncos last week, throwing for 232 yards with a touchdown and two picks in the game. Rivers will need to be more careful with the football in this game, as he’s going up against a 49ers defense that is extremely tough to throw against.
When Rivers is dropping back, he’ll likely look to Antonio Gates (58 rec, 662 yards, 10 TD) often. Gates is Rivers’ security blanket and is coming off of a game in which he caught six passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. With WR Keenan Allen (77 rec, 783 yards, 4 TD) done for the year, WRs Malcom Floyd (45 rec, 777 yards, 5 TD) and Eddie Royal (48 rec, 589 yards, 6 TD) will try to fill this void at wideout.
RB Ryan Mathews’ (330 yards, 3 TD) status is in doubt for the second straight week, so RBs Donald Brown (172 rush yards, 2.4 YPC, 0 TD) and Branden Oliver (458 rush yards, 3.4 YPC, 2 TD) will be relied on to carry the football against the 8th-ranked rushing defense in football. Oliver rushed for just 26 yards on 12 carries against the Broncos, but he did catch four passes for 44 yards.
The Chargers defense ranks amongst the top-15 in both passing and rushing, and will now go up against a 49ers offense that has scored just 23 points total over the past three weeks.
The 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention after their loss to the Seahawks last week, but this team does have pride and is not just going to roll over against the Chargers at home. San Francisco’s defense has allowed only 20.5 PPG over the past two weeks, but will need to get something positive out of the offense.
QB Colin Kaepernick (3,051 pass yards, 16 TD, 10 INT) has not had a multi-touchdown passing game since Week 6 of the season and has thrown for just one touchdown with four picks over the past three games. He is going to need to get himself going against this Chargers defense, as he now has to prove that he is the right guy to lead this team going forward.
RB Frank Gore (804 rush yards, 3 TD) rushed for 29 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks last week, but he suffered a concussion in the game. Gore is questionable to play on Saturday and if he does not, it’ll be a huge opportunity for backup RB Carlos Hyde (333 rush yards, 4 TD). Hyde is banged up as well, as he hurt his ankle against the Seahawks. Hyde has run the ball effectively this season (4.0 YPC), but if he can't go, then RB Alfonso Smith (4 carries, 6 yards), would be the main ball carrier. WR Anquan Boldin (74 rec, 920 yards, 4 TD) is this team’s top receiver and will need to be more involved this week, as he has caught only nine passes for 95 yards over the past three games combined.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
