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Quarterback Easton Stick of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates his touchdown run with Ryan Hunter and Michael Bandy. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images via AF
Quarterback Easton Stick of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates his touchdown run with Ryan Hunter and Michael Bandy. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images via AFP.

The Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers have had very little preseason success of late, so which bets should you make when these two teams face off on Saturday night? Here are our Cowboys-Chargers picks.

The Cowboys were bad in their preseason Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos. They trailed 17-0 for most of the game and didn’t find the end zone until the fourth quarter. Offensively, Malik Davis averaged 6.4 yards per carry, totaling 51 yards for the game. However, quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Ben DiNucci failed to combine for 200 yards.

Defensively, things weren’t any better, as Josh Johnson torched the secondary for 172 yards and two touchdowns, and Brett Rypien added 113 yards of his own.

The Chargers were much more involved in their preseason opener. Though they fell to the Los Angeles Rams by a score of 29-22, they were able to move the ball on the offensive end, but they struggled to contain Bryce Perkins on the defensive side of things.

It’s unlikely Justin Herbert will touch the field in this one, but Easton Stick and Chase Daniel both had success through the air, while Isaiah Spiller rushed for 34 yards in his NFL debut.

Here are my picks and predictions for Saturday’s Week 2 preseason matchup between the Cowboys and Chargers (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook).

Cowboys vs. Chargers Game Info

Date: Saturday, Aug. 20, 10:00 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Weather: 68 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, 12-mph winds

Cowboys vs. Chargers Odds Analysis

Most of the changes on this game have favored the Chargers. It opened as a pick'em, but the Chargers quickly became 3.5-point favorites. The number has since settled at -3, with late money coming in on the Cowboys.

As for the total, it opened at 38, dropped all the way to 36, and has since gone up to 37.5. Around 61% of cash is on the Under, while 62% of tickets are on the Over.

Cowboys vs. Chargers Picks

Betting Ticket0818.1

Cowboys vs. Chargers ATS Pick

Chargers -3 (-110)

Neither of these teams has been good in the preseason during the last few years. The Cowboys have lost six in a row, while the Chargers are just 2-6 in their last eight. Yet, while neither team has had much success winning, there is no doubt that the Chargers looked like the better side in Week 1.

Stick and Daniel were able to move the ball against the Rams, and it seems likely that Spiller will see more action this week. While the defense was far from great in Week 1, the Chargers won’t have to deal with a mobile quarterback in this one, which should allow them to keep the Cowboys in front of them.

This has settled right at the key number after moving to 3.5, so there is a slight chance you can get this at 2.5 closer to kickoff. However, you should feel confident taking -3 or -3.5 based on how these two teams looked in Week 1.

Check out the latest comprehensive and most trusted Sportsbook Reviews by SBR.

Cowboys vs. Chargers O/U Pick

Under 37.5 (-110)

The Cowboys showed no signs of life on offense in their Week 1 trip to Denver, and it is unlikely that will change on Saturday. Though they could put up two scores, this total allows for the Chargers to win 21-14 and have the total go Under.

The Chargers scored 22 in their preseason opener, but the pace of play against the Rams was much faster than many expected. At kickoff, the total for that game was Under 30, which is a number the Rams almost hit themselves.

Neither team has much explosive play potential with who it's putting on the field. Additionally, the Cowboys scoring seven seems like the norm, while the Chargers scoring 22 seems a bit like a fluke.  Expect a low-scoring defensive battle that ends somewhere in the high 20s or low 30s.

Where to Bet on Cowboys vs. Chargers

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Cowboys vs. Chargers picks made 8/18/2022 at 12:09 p.m. ET