Chargers' Super Bowl Odds Improve with Addition of Khalil Mack

The Los Angeles Chargers were not content letting their AFC West rival Denver Broncos add a new franchise quarterback without a response. The Chargers adding a proven pass rusher improved their odds in the Super Bowl futures market.

The Los Angeles Chargers reportedly acquired linebacker Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears on Thursday. The move solidifies the Chargers' pass rush, as Mack will join forces with former Defensive Rookie of the Year Joey Bosa. Two of our top-rated sportsbooks consider the move significant enough to adjust the Chargers' odds to win Super Bowl LVII next February.

Chargers' Super Bowl LVII Odds

https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/RlUvj/1/

Mack, 31, is an elite pass rusher who has accumulated 76.5 sacks in 117 career games with the then-Oakland Raiders and Bears. He was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and the runner-up for the award in 2018.

Mack suffered a foot injury in the third game of the 2021 season and tried to play through it for another four weeks before getting shut down to undergo surgery.

SEE ALSO: Joey Bosa's DPOY Chances Improve

Presuming that he is now healthy, he will give the Chargers another pass-rushing threat to complement Bosa, who led the Chargers with 10.5 sacks in 2021. In a division that boasts quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson, the Chargers upgrading their pass rush makes all kinds of sense.

Even if the move makes sense, Mack needs to be healthy and continue to generate pressure. He is a three-time first-team All-Pro and, despite his foot injury, had six sacks in seven games last season. A healthy Mack can be a difference maker.

Impact on Bears

Coming off a 6-11 season and starting a new era with a new general manager and head coach, the Bears are not a great fit for a 31-year-old pass rusher so they will move forward without Mack and try to build on a defense that already had to go without him for more than half of the 2021 season.

The Bears are priced at +750 on DraftKings Sportsbook, +850 on FanDuel Sportsbook, and +800 on Caesars Sportsbook to win the NFC North, none of which looks terribly appealing.

Recommendation

The Chargers are a decent value for the Super Bowl by their odds, especially at Caesars, but some of that is due to the challenges inherent in their division. 

The Kansas City Chiefs are running close to the Buffalo Bills as Super Bowl favorites and the odds for the Denver Broncos have shortened significantly by adding Russell Wilson. Can the Chargers find their way through to either win the AFC West or Super Bowl? As long as they have Justin Herbert at quarterback, they have a chance to be contenders and adding a premier pass rusher like Mack only strengthens that position. 

Considering that Caesars has not changed its division or Super Bowl prices for the Chargers since the Mack signing, while DraftKings and FanDuel both have, that presents a potential opportunity for betting value.

Where to Bet on the NFL

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel SportsbookCaesars SportsbookDraftKings SportsbookPointsBetBetMGM

SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.