NFL Picks: The San Diego Chargers have proven what a difference a good coach can make as second year head man Mike McCoy has been a considerable upgrade over previous head coach Norv Turner. Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs is another difference making head coach but his Chiefs have struggled with the injury bug so far in 2014.
The Chargers (-4) will host the Chiefs on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium with coverage on CBS starting at 4:05 PM ET. These two rivals have been in the same division since their founding in the American Football League in 1960.
The Real McCoy
The Chargers made the playoffs with a strong stretch run under McCoy last year and that momentum has continued in 2014 as they lead the AFC West with a record of 5-1 straight up, 5-1 against the spread, and 3-3 on totals. The Chargers rank seventh in the NFL for scoring offense and second for scoring defense. San Diego won at Oakland last week 31-28 but failed to cover as 7.5 point favorites. Quarterback Philip Rivers has a 117.6 QB rating with a 15-2 TD-INT ratio.
Wounded Chiefs
Kansas City is coming off a bye week that followed a tough 22-17 loss at San Francisco to now stand at 2-3 SU, 3-2 ATS, and 2-3 under the total. The Chiefs injury riddled offense ranks 21st overall in the NFL while the defense ranks 14th.
Matchup and Pick
Kansas City has come away with the cash in nine out of their last 12 away games as five out of their last seven road tilts have gone over the total. San Diego has covered the spread in eight out of their last 11 home games with four out of their last six home games going over the total.
The Chiefs have been a subpar betting value against the Chargers with just four payouts in their last 10 matchups as this head to head series has gone over the total in four out of their last five meetings. San Diego has paid out in seven out of their last 11 home games with the Chiefs as four out of the last seven meetings at Qualcomm between the Chiefs and Chargers have gone over the total. We’ll call for the Chargers (-4) and over 45 points.
