Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers: Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

The San Diego Chargers return from their bye week hoping to break a three-game losing streak as they host the Oakland Raiders Sunday in an AFC West matchup. The Chargers suffered their worst loss of the season before their bye, falling to the Miami Dolphins 37-0 on the road as 2.5-point underdogs, while the Raiders remain winless on the season at 0-9 straight up with a 4-5 mark against the spread.

Point spread: The Chargers opened as eight-point favorites; the total was 45 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 23.2-9.4 Chargers

Why the Raiders can cover the spread

Despite not having a win this year, Oakland has been fairly competitive against divisional opponents for the most part recently, especially away from home. The Raiders are 19-5 ATS in their last 24 road games versus AFC West foes, and they have also gone 8-3 versus the line in the past 11 meetings with San Diego.

In last week's 41-17 home loss to the Denver Broncos, they got off to a solid start, down just 13-10 toward the end of the second quarter before Denver quarterback Peyton Manning started a run of four straight touchdown passes to blow the game wide open.

Oakland rookie quarterback Derek Carr continues to learn on the job, and he threw a career-high four touchdowns in a 31-28 home loss to the Chargers in Week 6 to help his team cover the 7.5-point spread.

Why the Chargers can cover the spread

San Diego should have starting running back Ryan Mathews in the lineup for the first time since Week 2 when he suffered a sprained knee. Mathews played all 16 games for the Chargers a year ago and was vital to their success in making it to the playoffs. His return could not come at a better time with them losing three in a row to fall two games behind the Broncos for the lead in the AFC West.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers was also struggling before the bye and should be recharged to help his team make another push for the postseason.

It was around this time last season that the Chargers made their run to get into the playoffs, and playing the Raiders right now is the perfect way to kick off the second half.

Smart Pick

With the spread so high in this divisional game, it's hard not to take a hard look at Oakland. The Raiders played San Diego tough in the first meeting earlier this year, and they are 9-1 ATS in their past 10 games as double-digit road underdogs.

The Chargers have struggled in their last 10 home games against AFC West opponents with a 2-8 mark versus the line, so bettors should expect them to win but not cover the large number.

In the last five meetings at San Diego, Oakland has lost by more than eight points only once, with two of the games decided by a touchdown or less and the Raiders winning 28-13 as a 13-point underdog in 2010. Take them to cover again.

Betting Trends

• The total has gone under in four of Oakland's last five games when playing on the road against San Diego.
• San Diego is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games.

Note: All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark—follow us on Twitter for injury updates and line-move updates.