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Vegas is pretty high on the Chargers

By Matt Pagels

SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers signals at the line of scrimmage in the game against the St. Louis Rams at Qualcomm Stadium on November 23, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers signals at the line of scrimmage in the game against the St. Louis Rams at Qualcomm Stadium on November 23, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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It appears as if Vegas is in favor of the 2018 Los Angeles Chargers.

Football is almost back! Training camp, preseason football and the start of the 2018 regular season will be here in no time.

We’ve come to the conclusion that after looking at the roster and believing in the coaching staff, this Chargers team is going to be a good one. How good? Despite not making the playoffs since 2013 or winning the division since 2009, I believe they are a playoff-caliber team.

And Vegas doesn’t seem to be scared off by the team’s underachieving (or unlucky) ways. As of July 5, the Chargers have playoff odds set at -145.

Opening odds to make the 2018 NFL playoffs (@betonline_ag):

ARI +800ATL +115BAL +135BUF +450CAR +130CHI +450CIN +400CLE +600DAL +145DEN +275DET +260GB -170HOU -135IND +325JAX -140KC +120LAC -145LAR -170MIA +600MIN -260NE -1500NO -130NYG +325

— OddsShark (@OddsShark) July 5, 2018

The New England Patriots are the favorites at -1500, which more than doubles the next best odds. They are coming off a Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Pittsburgh Steelers (-550), Eagles (-260), Minnesota Vikings (-260), Green Bay Packers (-170) and Los Angeles Rams (-170) follow.

And then come the Chargers. Yup, Vegas believes the Chargers are the third-best team in the AFC and seventh-best overall. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs, who are the reigning AFC West champs, have odd sets at +120. The Oakland Raiders (+165) and Denver Broncos (+275) rank third and fourth, respectively, in the division.

The Chargers didn’t get this much love from Vegas last year. This year is a different story. The Chargers continue to get hyped up, and I love it.

But do they deserve it? Don’t get me wrong, if the Chargers stay healthy and make field goals for once, they should go on to do big things in 2018. But again, they haven’t done much in recent years. Plus, they have struggled against the Chiefs, who have won the division the last two years and made the playoffs the last three. The Chargers have lost eight straight games to the Chiefs.

Let’s see if the Chargers can put it all together for what should be an exciting season.

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