Chargers vs. Rams Prediction and Odds for Aug. 27: Rams Bring Underdog Value
The Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams meet Thursday night at SoFi Stadium in an NFL preseason finale between two teams that know the building well. Both call SoFi home, and while the Chargers are technically the home team, this is about as familiar of a setting as either side could have. Anytime these two teams clash, it's one of the biggest storylines of the week.
The bigger difference is how these teams have looked through two games. The Rams are 2-0 and have been consistent on both sides of the ball, while the Chargers have produced two wildly different performances. That makes the Rams the more appealing side in my Chargers vs. Rams prediction, especially with more than a field goal in hand.
Chargers-Rams Betting Odds
The Chargers vs. Rams odds have the Chargers favored by 3.5 points despite the Rams entering the finale unbeaten.
- Spread: Rams +3.5 (-105) | Chargers -3.5 (-115)
- Moneyline: Rams +162 | Chargers -194
- Total: Over 38.5 (-105) | Under 38.5 (-115)
The Rams opened with a 20-12 win over Kansas City and followed it by shutting out New Orleans 34-0. They have scored 54 points while allowing only 12.
The Chargers have been much harder to figure out. They dominated Houston 27-7 in the opener, then completely flipped the script last week in a 41-17 loss to San Francisco. That type of volatility is normal in the preseason, but it still makes laying 3.5 points difficult.
Getting the Rams at +3.5 is attractive, and the +162 moneyline is worth a look as well.
All odds via BetMGM.
Game Prediction
The preseason is always about much more than the final score. Teams are evaluating players, testing schemes and figuring out who deserves one of the final spots on the 53-man roster. That is especially true in the finale, when there are only so many opportunities left for players on the bubble to make an impression.
Still, the Rams have simply looked like the more consistent team. They have won both games, their offense has produced at least 20 points in each, and their defense has been excellent. A 34-0 shutout last week is hard to ignore, even in an exhibition game.
The Chargers are capable of looking much better than they did against San Francisco. We already saw that against Houston. But the Rams look like the better team at the top and the deeper team right now, which makes getting points even more appealing.
My Chargers vs. Rams prediction has the Rams keeping this close and having a real chance to win outright. The spread is my preferred play because we get more than a field goal, but the moneyline at +162 also has value.
Best Bet: Rams +3.5 (-105)
Chargers-Rams Total Prediction
I’m also taking the over 38.5.
The Rams have shown that their preseason offense can generate points regardless of who is on the field. They scored 20 against Kansas City and then jumped to 34 last week. The Chargers have also shown offensive upside with 27 points in their opener and 17 even in a blowout loss to San Francisco.
The Rams have defended extremely well so far, but preseason rotations can change everything from one week to the next. The Chargers just allowed 41 points, and both teams will be working through different combinations of starters, backups and players fighting for jobs.
That creates opportunities for busted coverages, short fields and explosive plays. We don’t need a full shootout to clear 38.5, either. Something in the range of 24-20 gets us there.
The total portion of my Chargers vs. Rams prediction is that both offenses do enough to push this game into the 40s.
Best Bet: Over 38.5 (-105)
Final Chargers-Rams Best Bets
The Rams have been the more consistent team through two preseason games, and getting 3.5 points on most sports betting sites makes them the side I trust most. They have won both games convincingly, while the Chargers have already shown how different they can look from one week to the next.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win I’m backing Rams +3.5 as the primary play, with the +162 moneyline offering additional value for anyone willing to take the chance on an outright win. Over 38.5 rounds out the card because both offenses have shown enough scoring ability for this game to reach the 40s.
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