Saints vs. Chargers Predictions, Picks & Odds: Backing Easton Stick and L.A.

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18 August 2023

Saints vs. Chargers Predictions, Picks & Odds: Backing Easton Stick and L.A.

Can the Los Angeles Chargers cover the spread at home against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2 of the NFL preseason? Here are our Saints vs. Chargers predictions based on the best NFL odds from our best sports betting apps.

It's Week 2 of the NFL preseason, and were it not for matchups against the Los Angeles Rams each year, the Los Angeles Chargers might not have secured a win in the preseason under the coaching of Brandon Staley. The Chargers have a 2-5 record in preseason games during his tenure, with both wins coming against the Rams. Staley's preseason record against the spread also stands at 3-4.

Staley has consistently shown reluctance to deploy his starters in preseason games, a stance highlighted by Justin Herbert, who has yet to take a snap in any NFL preseason game. How many starting quarterbacks in the NFL can make such a claim?

Given Staley's minimal emphasis on the preseason compared to most NFL coaches and his commitment to resting starters while giving rookies vying for roster spots ample playing time, what is the rationale behind betting on the Chargers on the spread?

Here is our best Saints vs. Chargers prediction (odds via our best NFL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Saints vs. Chargers prediction

Chargers +3.5 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐

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We still don't have much clarity on who will actually be playing for both the Saints and the Chargers, but one thing is certain: Justin Herbert won't be under center for the Chargers. Herbert has never taken a preseason snap in his career, and don't expect that to change. Staley doesn't want to risk his star quarterback getting injured.

When it comes to the Chargers, we know what we're getting with the +3.5 spread - a quarterback rotation of Easton Stick and Max Duggan. On the other hand, you have the Saints who used Derek Carr and Jameis Winston in Week 1. Many bettors might lean towards the Saints due to their stronger quarterback rotation, but buyer beware.

Last year in the preseason, Dennis Allen had Ian Book play the entire game in Week 2 and then used Winston and Andy Dalton in Week 3. If he follows a similar approach as last year, Jake Haener might become the starting quarterback, which would certainly alter the spread following an official announcement. The Saints wouldn't be a 3-point road favorite if Haener starts; they're only 3-point favorites with the assumption that we might see Carr or Winston, or both.

At Circa Sports, the Chargers are trading at +3 (-110) on the spread. Caesars is offering the Chargers at the same juice with an extra half point on a key number. For this reason, I'm taking the Chargers at +3.5 at Caesars. If you bet on the +3.5 (-110) and the Saints decide to sit Carr and Winston in this game, your position will be quite favorable by kickoff with your bet on the Chargers at +3.5.

Saints vs. Chargers best odds

Caesars (-110)

It's not always evident which odds are the best for a game when you encounter two different spreads and various juices across our best sports betting sites. In this situation, the half-point advantage on the three-point spread for the Chargers holds significantly more value than the extra eight cents you'll pay in juice between the DraftKings and Caesars lines. Opting for the Chargers +3.5 (-110) is a considerably more favorable wager compared to Chargers +3 (-102) at DraftKings.

Saints vs. Chargers odds

At FanDuel, the Saints initially opened as 4-point favorites over the Chargers. However, we've witnessed a shift in this line as the week progressed, with it now reaching Chargers +3.5 (-115). The first adjustment was to Chargers +3.5 (-110), and a subsequent adjustment nudged the number to Chargers +3.5 (-115). This second adjustment in the juice implies that FanDuel might be trending toward a Saints -3 line.

The total initially started at 37.5 points at FanDuel (-110/-110), and there hasn't been any movement in this number since the opening.