Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
The San Diego Chargers will travel in a week 1 NFL pro football game on Monday night against AFC West rival the Kansas City Chiefs.
The game will kick off from Kansas City at 10:15PM Eastern Time and you can watch it on ESPN Television.
The betting line opened up with the road team San Diego Chargers opening as 5 ½ point favorites with the over under lined at 45.
The early money from the NFL betting public has been home underdog money as the San Diego Chargers are now favored by 4 ½ points. The total saw movement downward to 44 ½.
Money line bettors on the side of the favored San Diego Chargers will lay -215 odds with the road underdog Kansas City Chiefs bringing back +185 to pull off the upset win without the aid of getting points.
The Chargers won both meetings with their divisional foe taking a 37-7 road win at Kansas City as a 5 ½ point favorite and they put a 43-14 pounding on the Chiefs as a 13 ½ point betting favorite.
Phillip Rivers carried the Chargers offense on his back in 2010 with no help from his running game. Rivers completed over 65% of his passes for 4254 yards 28 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
In the two meetings against KC Rivers hit on 39 of 58 for 585 yards five touchdowns and no picks.
The Chargers said goodbye to LaDainian Tomlinson during the off season as the veteran back contribute only a 3.3 yards per rush average on 223 carries in 2009. The Chargers drafted running back Ryan Mathews out of Fresno St to be the lead back in 2010. Mathews was outstanding in college posting impressive numbers not only against a inept WAC defenses but when the Bulldogs stepped up in class against BCS competition.
Wide receiver Vincent Jackson led the Chargers with 1167 yards receiving but not only does he face a three game suspension but he is holding out as of press time. Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee will start out wide for the Chargers. Floyd had 45 receptions in 2009 with a 17.2 yards per catch average and 1 touchdown. Tight end Antonio Gates was blessed with better health last season and contributed with 79 receptions with 8 touchdowns and an outstanding 14.6 yards per catch for a tight end.
The Chargers were the number five passing offense in 2009 averaging 271 yards per game.
Defensively the Chargers sat 16th in total defense allowing 327 yards per game. They picked up their pressure and sack total in 2009 following a non existent pass rush in 2008.
Kansas City will have a new look to their coordinators this season as Charlie Weiss will run the offense and Romeo Crennel the defense.
The expectations have been raised much higher for starting quarterback Matt Cassel. The 6 year veteran completed 55% of his passes for 2924 yards 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
After bidding adieu to inept running back Larry Johnson and his 2.9 yards per rush average with a bad attitude the team inserted a more professional Jamaal Charles at the position. The former Texas Longhorn produced as he rushed 190 times for an outstanding 5.9 yards per carry average and 7 touchdowns.
The Chiefs acquired Chris Chambers from the Chargers last season and the wide out produced a solid 16.9 yards per catch average with 4 touchdowns and 10 receptions for over 20 yards. Former first round pick Dwayne Bowe was hampered by drops and a suspension last season and will start out wide opposite Chambers.
Kansas City was a mess on defense last season sitting 30th in total defense allowing 388 yards per game and 29th in scoring defense surrendering over 26 points per game. They need to establish some kind of pass rush as the defensive front generated only 22 sacks to sit 31st in the league.
Glen Dorsey for all the hype he received while in college and around draft time has been somewhat of a bust for the team.
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NFL Trend: San Diego Chargers went 2-0 ATS last season versus the Kansas City Chiefs
Tags: betting, espn tv, Kansas city chiefs, monday, monday night football, nfl, Odds, pick, preview, pro football, san diego chargers, september 13th 2010
