ATS Picks: Los Angeles Chargers vs Carolina Panthers NFL Picks, Predictions 9/27/20

The Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers meet Sunday in week 3 NFL action at SoFi Stadium.

The Carolina Panthers need a bounce back victory here to avoid their first 0-3 start since the 2010 NFL season. The Carolina Panthers have lost six straight road games. Teddy Bridgewater is completing 72.4 percent of his passes for 636 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Bridgewater has 10 touchdown passes dating back to last season. Robby Anderson and DJ Moore have combined for 397 receiving yards and one touchdown while Mike Davis has eight receptions. The Carolina Panthers ground game is averaging 108 yards per contest, and Christian McCaffrey leads the way with 156 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Carolina is allowing 32.5 points and 355.5 yards per game. Jeremy Chinn leads the Carolina Panthers with 15 tackles, Brian Burns has two tackles for loss and Donte Jackson has one interception.

The Los Angeles Chargers look for their first home win of the season to get a game above a .500 record. The Los Angeles Chargers have lost six of their last seven home games. Justin Herbert is completing 66.7 percent of his passes for 311 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Herbert and Tyrod Taylor have combined for 519 passing yards this season. Hunter Henry and Keenan Allen have combined for 289 receiving yards on 22 catches while Mike Williams has six receptions. The Los Angeles Chargers ground game is averaging 169 yards per contest, and Austin Ekeler leads the way with 177 yards on 35 carries. Defensively, Los Angeles is allowing 18 points and 354.5 yards per game. Kenneth Murray Jr. leads the Los Angeles Chargers with 18 tackles, Joey Bosa has two sacks and Melvin Ingram III has one interception.

The Panthers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games, 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog and 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Chargers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite, 8-20-1 ATS in their last 29 home games and 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The over is 7-1 in Panthers last 8 games overall. The over is 4-1 in Chargers last 5 games overall. The Panthers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.

The Carolina Panthers haven’t looked great through two games and now they just lost Christian McCaffrey for a while due to an ankle injury. The Los Angeles Chargers got a major confidence boost by taking the Chiefs to overtime and Herbert looked good in his first career NFL game. There’s still questions about who will start at quarterback for the Chargers here, as Tyrod Taylor is dealing with a chest issue. The Chargers are the better team and should win this game, but this line is crazy steep. The Chargers aren’t exactly worldbeaters, especially as long as they have question marks at quarterback. 

There’s better options on the week 3 NFL card, but I’ll take my chances with the Panthers and the boatload of points.