The Jim Harbaugh era with the Los Angeles Chargers is off to a bit of a rocky start. This week, quarterback Justin Herbert was diagnosed with a plantar fascia injury to his right foot, and he is likely to miss the entire preseason. Herbert will spend at least the next two weeks in a walking boot, but the team is confident that he will be ready to go by Week 1’s opener at home against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Herbert missed the final four games in 2023 because of a broken finger, and the Chargers lost all four on their way to a 5-12 final record. Getting Herbert healthy is the team’s top priority.
Los Angeles Chargers Postseason Odds
With Herbert under center, a playoff trip is very doable. L.A. is paying +110 on a bet to make the postseason, and -130 on a bet to miss the postseason. If Easton Stick or Max Duggan has to make a start in place of Herbert, expect those odds to change dramatically.
As bad as the Chargers were last season, they are considered to be the biggest challenger to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. The Chiefs are -230 to win their ninth straight division title, with the Chargers at +320 to win their first division title since 2009.
A bet on the Chargers to emerge from the AFC playoffs as the champions pays +2200, which ties them with the Cleveland Browns for the eighth-shortest odds. If the Chargers were to win the first Super Bowl in franchise history, that bet pays +4500. That ranks 17th in the NFL.
Their over/under on regular season wins is 8.5.
Offensive Award Odds
During Jim Harbaugh’s tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, his teams were successful in spite of flawed offenses. In yards gained, they ranked 26th, 11th, 24th, and 20th. Herbert feels like good value at +2200 to win the MVP award – the 12th-shortest odds on the board – but beware of Harbaugh’s offensive history.
His Michigan Wolverines were led by the 10th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but Michigan’s offense averaged 37 rush attempts per game. That bodes well for running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, who both pay +15000 for Offensive Player of the Year. Not so much for Herbert (+6000 for OPOY).
Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have left the wide receiver room in Los Angeles, but there is a lot to like about rookie wideout Ladd McConkey. The 34th overall pick out of Georgia is paying +3500 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, which ranks him 10th on the latest odds board.
Defensive Award Odds
The Chargers went offense with their first- and second-round picks. But in the third round, they selected a linebacker that Harbaugh knows quite well, Junior Colson from Michigan. He is +4000 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In the fourth round, the Chargers selected Alabama defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe, and he listed at +12000 to win DROY. Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart was taken in the fifth round, and he is also paying +12000.
Defensive end Joey Bosa is the best player on the Chargers defense, and he is listed at +5000 to win Defensive Player of the Year. Khalil Mack has a DPOY award win on his resume, and after a career-high 17 sacks in 2023, he is paying +6000 to win another DPOY. He won as a Raider in 2016.
The back end of this defense is led by safety Derwin James, and he is +8000 to win DPOY.
Jim Harbaugh is paying +850 to win Coach of the Year, which ties him with Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus as the favorite.
With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.
