First Pick: Chargers -9.5
Rundown: The Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) host the Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) in an AFC West showdown at Sofi Stadium. Los Angeles enters Week 13 well-rested after a bye, while Las Vegas has dropped nine of its last 10 games, including a 14-point home loss to the Cleveland Browns last week. Los Angeles maintains a slight edge against the spread this season with a 5–6 record, while Las Vegas sits at 4–7.
Divisional games often pose a different challenge because opponents know each other better than anyone else in the league, but that hasn’t been an issue for Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert. Since being drafted in 2020, Herbert has a 20/2 touchdown-to-interception ratio with a passer rating clearing 100 in 10 starts versus Las Vegas. Herbert has not lost to Las Vegas since December 2022, winning four straight and seven out of ten overall in his career. In Herbert’s seven wins against Las Vegas, the average margin of victory is 9.42 points.
This will be the Raiders first game since firing offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who had been the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL at $6 million per year. Las Vegas’ 31st ranked offense has been unable to find answers all season, mostly contributed by ineffective play calling and subpar quarterback play from first-year Raider Geno Smith. Another reason for Las Vegas’ lack of success through 11 games is their inability to move the ball on the ground with rookie Ashton Jeanty, ranking 2nd-worst in the NFL with 79.5 yards per game.
Look for Los Angeles to overwhelm Las Vegas early in this matchup and roll to a convincing home victory.
Second Pick: Over 6.5 Goals
Rundown: The Anaheim Ducks (15–8–1) travel to the United Center to face the Chicago Blackhawks (10–9–5) in a Western Conference matchup. Anaheim is coming off a 5–4 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings, while Chicago looks to get back on track after dropping five straight. Anaheim’s success has been driven by its offense, which ranks second in the NHL with 87 goals this season. Chicago sits in the middle of the pack, ranking 15th with 75 goals in 24 games. Both teams have seen three of their last four games go over the projected goal total. With each offense capitalizing at a high level, this matchup has the potential to exceed the goal number again.
Rundown: The white-hot Los Angeles Lakers (14–4), winners of six straight, host the New Orleans Pelicans (3–17) in a matchup at Crypto.com Arena. New Orleans enters at just 1–8 on the road this season, with its only away win coming in Dallas in early November. In their first meeting, Los Angeles covered the spread with a 14-point win in New Orleans. The Lakers have been strong ATS, owning a 13–5 record, while the Pelicans continue searching for answers on both ends, ranking 27th in scoring offense and 26th in points allowed. New Orleans gives up 121.6 points per game, and Los Angeles is 7–0 ATS when it scores more than that figure.
With LeBron James out due to a foot injury, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will shoulder the offensive load as the Lakers look to extend their winning streak to seven.
