49ers -7.5 (-110)
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- Since Brandon Staley took over as head coach for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021, the team has lost six of their eight preseason games. In those six losses, the Chargers have been defeated by an average margin of 12.5 points.
- Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers are 8-4 in their last 12 preseason games, and their last four wins have come by an average margin of 10.5 points per game.
- Justin Herbert has never played a preseason snap in his four-year career, and he is unlikely to suit up against the 49ers this Friday. As a result, we’ll likely see a mix of Easton Stick and Max Duggan (both of whom have been very inconsistent this preseason) at the QB position for the Chargers.
The Los Angeles Chargers will battle the San Francisco 49ers on Friday night in the third and final week of the 2023 NFL Preseason. San Francisco is currently a 7.5-point favorite at home after Head Coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Brock Purdy and the other 49ers’ starters will play in the preseason finale. Let’s go ahead and take a closer look at this Chargers vs 49ers matchup as we make our best NFL betting picks for this interconference showdown.
Chargers vs 49ers Betting Pick
Chargers vs 49ers: 49ers -7.5 (-110)
Why Bet on the 49ers To Cover:
✅ Under Head Coach Brandon Staley, the Los Angeles Chargers are just 2-6 in preseason games. In addition, they have lost four of their last eight preseason matchups by a touchdown or more.
✅ Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers have won eight of their last 12 preseason matchups (dating back to 2019). In addition, six of their last eight victories have come by seven or more points.
✅ Brock Purdy and the rest of the 49ers’ starters are expected to play on Friday against Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Justin Herbert (who has never played a single preseason snap) and the other Chargers’ first-team players are unlikely to take the field in their preseason finale.
This game will be played at Levi’s Stadium at 10:00 PM ET on August 25, 2023.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers finished with a 10-7 record in 2022, earning the AFC’s top Wild Card spot and a second-place finish in their division. Unfortunately, Justin Herbert and the Chargers suffered a heartbreaking loss in the Wild Card round, blowing a 27-0 lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, they will look to bounce back and reach new heights under third-year head coach Brandon Staley.
Los Angeles had a relatively quiet 2023 offseason. However, the team did land a few key pieces on their defense, including Pro Bowl linebacker Eric Kendricks and veteran defensive end Morgan Fox. They will look to help a Chargers’ defense that ranked in the bottom half of the league in yards per game allowed and points per game allowed just a season ago.
San Francisco 49ers
Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers are coming off a 13-4 finish to the 2022 regular season. Led by rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers defeated the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys en route to an NFC Championship Game appearance. However, they endured a 31-7 beatdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in the conference championship, with Purdy suffering a devastating elbow injury early on in the game.
The San Francisco 49ers’ defense was dominant in 2022, leading the league in nearly every major statistical category. However, they lost several key pieces from last year’s team during the offseason, including defensive ends Charles Omenihu and Samson Ebukam. San Francisco did manage to land Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in free agency, and the 49ers will look to maintain their reputation as one of the toughest defenses in the league.
