A pivotal AFC West showdown will take place on Thursday Night Football when the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) host the Denver Broncos (9-5). The Broncos head into Thursday Night Football on a four-game win streak. In Week 15, they defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-13. Denver had a second-half explosion, scoring 24 points. On the other sideline, Los Angeles is on a two-game skid. At home, the Chargers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, 40-17. 

Kickoff from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. Los Angeles is a 2.5-point favorite in the latest Broncos vs. Chargers odds from the SportsLine Consensus, down a half-point from the opener, while the over/under for total points scored is 41. Before making any Chargers vs. Broncos picks, make sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine expert Matt Severance, considering his mastery of picks involving the Broncos.

Severance is a well-connected writer and high-volume handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. He went 121-93-2 for a profit of $589 on his NFL spread picks last season. Furthermore, Severance is on a 23-7 roll on his last 30 picks in games involving the Broncos (+1417). Anyone who has followed him on sportsbooks and betting apps is way up.

Now, Severance has locked in on Broncos vs. Chargers and just revealed his coveted NFL picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds and NFL betting lines for Chargers vs. Broncos:

• Broncos vs. Chargers spread: Los Angeles -2.5
• Broncos vs. Chargers over/under: 41 points
• Broncos vs. Chargers money line: Los Angeles -146, Denver +123
• LAC: Chargers are 9-5 against the spread this season
• DEN: Broncos are 11-3 against the spread this season
• Broncos vs. Chargers picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why the Chargers can cover

Quarterback Justin Herbert spreads the ball around, while also taking care of the football. This season, he has thrown for 2,959 yards, 16 passing touchdowns and two interceptions. The Oregon product has thrown for multiple passing touchdowns in five games this season.

Rookie receiver Ladd McConkey has stepped up as the top target in the passing game. McConkey leads the team in receptions (63) and receiving yards (873) with five touchdowns. The Georgia product has surpassed 50 receiving yards in seven straight games. In Week 15 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had five grabs for 58 yards and one touchdown. See who to back at SportsLine.

Why the Broncos can cover

Receiver Courtland Sutton gives Denver a big-bodied playmaker at 6-foot-4. He leads the team in receptions (66), receiving yards (878) and touchdowns (6). He also has 15 catches of 20-plus yards. The SMU product has logged at least 70 yards in six of his last seven games. 

Quarterback Bo Nix is playing well in his rookie season under Sean Payton. The Oregon product is second among rookies in passing yards (2,972) and first in passing touchdowns (20). He has thrown for at least two passing touchdowns in seven outings in 2024. In his first game against the Chargers, Nix had 216 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. See who to back at SportsLine.

How to make Broncos vs. Chargers picks

Severance has analyzed Broncos vs. Chargers from every possible angle. He’s leaning Under on the point total and has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. Find out what it is, and which team to back, at SportsLine. 

So who wins Chargers vs. Broncos on Thursday Night Football, and what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread hit hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Chargers vs. Broncos spread to back, all from the expert who is an amazing 23-7 on picks involving Denver, and find out.