The Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers will square off in Week 3 of the NFL preseason tonight. Kickoff is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The game will broadcast live on NFL Network.
The Chargers are 4.5-point favorites over the Rams on the spread (Chargers -4.5), with the over/under set at 39.5 total points. The Chargers are -188 moneyline favorites to win outright, while the Rams are listed as +156 underdogs to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Rams vs Chargers predictions and NFL picks for Thursday, August 27.
My Rams vs Chargers Prediction
- Rams vs Chargers pick: Chargers -4.5 (-106)
My Rams vs Chargers best bet is on the Chargers to cover the spread (-4.5), with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Rams vs Chargers Odds
| Rams Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -114 | 39.5 -110o / -110u | +156 |
| Chargers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -106 | 39.5 -110o / -110u | -188 |
Rams vs Chargers NFL Preseason Preview
Los Angeles Rams Betting Preview: Low Preseason Urgency
Rams head coach Sean McVay has established a reputation for holding out key starters during the preseason, and this upcoming finale is no exception. Matthew Stafford will remain safely on the sideline, leaving the workload under center to the backups.
McVay confirmed that rookie signal-caller Ty Simpson will see extensive playing time. Meanwhile, Stetson Bennett's status remains undecided, meaning Simpson could either split snaps evenly with Bennett or handle the vast majority of the game himself.
Reports out of Rams camp indicate that Bennett has been taking the bulk of the second-string reps in practice, suggesting he currently holds the inside track for the QB2 job.
Both reserve quarterbacks have put together solid preseason stat lines — Simpson has completed 29-of-37 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns, while Bennett has gone 23-for-37 for 219 yards — but the broader context around the decision to hold out starters and potentially key second-string players should be concerning for potential Rams bettors in this spot.
If McVay decides to protect both his starters and primary backups, the Rams will be turning to the very bottom of their depth chart for four full quarters.
Operating with third- and fourth-stringers on both sides of the ball against a Chargers squad that is expected to play their starters for two series and then go down the list from there will likely create a big on-field talent gap throughout this game, especially in the early parts.
Los Angeles Chargers Betting Preview: Early Starter Reps & Solid QB Depth
The Chargers enter Thursday’s matchup with a completely different preseason philosophy under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Treating this game like a traditional regular-season dress rehearsal, Harbaugh announced that Justin Herbert and the starting unit will play the first two series.
This brief appearance gives the Chargers a prime opportunity to jump out to an early lead as the starting offense continues to get comfortable operating under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Once Herbert exits, the Chargers boast one of the most interesting reserve quarterback rotations in the league with Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei.
Lance, a former No. 3 overall pick, has completed 22-of-36 passes for 237 yards this preseason, while Uiagalelei has gone 13-for-24 for 200 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Both signal-callers carry relatively high-level pedigree for their respective spots on the depth chart and remain locked in an active battle for the backup job behind Herbert.
Going up against a Rams defense that will be largely comprised of fringe players and future practice squad members, Lance and Uiagalelei possess more than enough arm talent and athleticism to move the ball consistently throughout the final three quarters or so of this game.
Rams vs Chargers Prediction, Betting Analysis
This matchup fits our Bet Labs system titled "NFL Preseason: Contrarian Sharp." The logic behind this system focuses on reverse line movement, identifying games where the point spread moves sharply toward the side taking significantly less early public action.
In this spot, the Chargers opened as 2.5-point favorites, but the spread quickly swelled to Chargers -4.5.
What makes this move so notable is that our internal bet tracking data shows a large skew in public action backing the Rams, who have drawn 86% of the overall spread tickets and 90% of the total money so far.
When oddsmakers actively increase a line in favor of a team taking a tiny fraction of the market action, it indicates respected sharp money coming in on the favorite while inviting even more public exposure on the underdog.
In the preseason, these controlled reverse line moves often reflect inside information regarding rotation plans and coaching urgency that the general public has not fully processed.
The market reality matches the potential mismatch on the field.
The Chargers appear to be taking this contest a bit more seriously, utilizing starter snaps early and handing the keys to two talented, motivated backup quarterbacks operating in a fresh offensive system.
The Rams, by contrast, are simply trying to reach the regular season healthy while leaning on deep reserves.
We'll trust the contrarian line movement system and lay the points with the Chargers in this spot.
Pick: Chargers -4.5 (-106)
