Los Angeles Chargers at New Orleans Saints Betting Preview
A couple of teams who are winless so far this preseason meetup on Friday when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the New Orleans Saints. Oddsmakers have New Orleans a -3 point favorite in their only home game of the preseason.
Even though it’s just an exhibition game, this contest seems like it would be important for both teams. New Orleans wants to get at least one victory in Dennis Allen’s first preseason as head coach with the squad, while the Chargers are the only winless team in what looks like it will be a very tough AFC West.
Does Herbert Need Any Work?
The Chargers were 9-8 last year, a win or a tie against the Raiders in the regular season finale away from a playoff berth. Despite not getting that valuable postseason experience and playing in the brutal AFC West, people have high hopes for L.A. this season, and many have QB Justin Herbert as an MVP candidate.
Will Herbert play Friday against the Saints, though? It’s been Easton Stick and Chase Daniel taking all the snaps in games so far during this exhibition season, a trend that will likely continue as coach Brandon Staley has been very cautious with his starters so far.
The Chargers are throwing the ball a lot, 40+ times in each of the first two preseason games, but they’re also allowing over 30 ppg in losses to the Rams and Chargers – both at home. Staley is just 1-4 in exhibition games, so it’s obvious he doesn’t really value wins this time of year.
Good Confidence Builder for New Orleans
The Saints have a lot of questions heading into their first season in the last 15 years without Sean Payton as their coach. Allen takes over the reins after being the team’s defensive coordinator the last six games, but he does have head coaching experience with the Raiders from 2012 to 2014.
New Orleans not only kept Allen, but Pete Carmichael stayed on as offensive coordinator – a role he’s had since 2009. That means there’s not a whole new system to integrate, which helps, but the Saints have also scored just two TDs this preseason.
The good news is the Chargers defense has looked bad this exhibition year and could get Jameis Winston some reps after he’s missed a lot of time this camp with a right foot sprain. The fact that the Chargers likely won’t be playing Khalil Mack or Joey Bosa has to be a relief for Winston, Ian Book, or Andy Dalton, whichever New Orleans QB gets a bulk of the snaps.
Chargers at Saints Pick and Prediction
Not that logistics matter a whole lot in the preseason, but the finale will be the first home game for the Saints and the first road tilt for Los Angeles. That actually may be a detriment to the Chargers, as they get the excitement of breaking camp but then have to travel cross country right away.
The fact that Staley hasn’t really valued wins in his two preseasons with the Chargers and L.A. is more worried about staying healthy than getting victories; you have to give this edge to the Saints.
New Orleans wants to get a win in front of their home fans to build some excitement for a fan base timid about their first season without Payton as coach in over a decade.
Pick: Saints -3
