San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
Thursday, December 16, 2010, 8:20 pm EST, TV: NFL
Opening Line: Chargers -9
Current Line: Chargers -9
Opening Total: 44
Current Total: 44.5
Money Line: Chargers -385 / 49ers +325
The San Diego Chargers (7-6) and San Francisco 49ers (5-8) both earned important wins against division rivals last week to stay in contention for the playoffs. But only one of them will be able to carry a two-game winning streak into Week 16 while the other will face even greater odds after this crucial Thursday Night Football matchup in San Diego.
The Chargers (-9) are fortunate enough to be hosting the 49ers at this point of the season and finish the regular season with road games at Cincinnati and Denver. Meanwhile, the 49ers visit San Diego and St. Louis before playing their regular-season finale at home against Arizona.
San Diego returned to dominance in a 31-0 rout of Kansas City last Sunday thanks in part to the fact that Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel was unable to play due to an appendectomy. Cassel’s backup Brodie Croyle fell to 0-10 in his career starts after completing 7 of 17 passes for 40 yards and getting sacked four times for 29 yards.
Offensively, the Chargers used a balanced offensive attack that saw quarterback Philip Rivers connect on two touchdown passes with wide receiver Malcom Floyd while running backs Mike Tolbert (66 rushing yards) and Ryan Mathews (65) each added touchdown runs. Mathews saw his first action since Week 9 and turned in his second-best performance of the year behind only a 78-yard effort against Kansas City in the season opener. San Diego is 2-2 without Mathews this season and has now won five of six following a 2-5 start.
San Francisco has won consecutive games only once this season, alternating wins and losses in four games since then. The 49ers welcomed quarterback Alex Smith back and turned in their best offensive performance of the season in a 40-21 victory against Seattle last week. Alex Smith replaced the ineffective Troy Smith, who had replaced him during the team’s trip to London. Alex Smith ended up completing 17 of 27 passes for 255 yards with three touchdowns – all in the first half – and no interceptions against the Seahawks.
The OVER has cashed in San Francisco’s last two games after two straight UNDERs. The 49ers are 3-6 against the spread in their last nine games compared to a 5-1 mark both straight-up and ATS in the last six for the Chargers. The UNDER is 3-0-1 in San Diego’s last four overall and 4-1 in the team’s last five home games.
Now that you have read this football betting preview featuring the Chargers & 49ers, check out the NFL odds on this and all the games to compare the best lines at multiple sportsbooks.
