NFL odds Week 8: Who has edge in matchup between Bolts, Broncos?

The San Diego Chargers are coming off a home loss to one AFC West opponent and will take to the road to face another divisional foe when they visit the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. The Chargers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-20 last week as three-point favorites, and they are consensus 7.5-point underdogs against the Broncos, who crushed the San Francisco 49ers 42-17 in a record-breaking performance on Sunday Night Football.

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Now that Denver quarterback Peyton Manning has broken Brett Favre’s all-time passing touchdowns mark, he and his teammates can focus on beating a San Diego squad that has given them fits over the past few years. The Chargers are 3-1 against the spread in the last four meetings between these teams and beat the Broncos on the road last year 27-20 on Thursday Night Football as 10-point underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Former Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy proved his worth as the San Diego head coach last year and knows the Broncos well from his time there. McCoy has done a great job revitalizing the career of Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who is 10-7 in regular-season meetings versus Denver with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

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Meanwhile, Manning owns a career regular-season record of 7-4 against San Diego with 24 touchdowns and 19 picks, the second-most picks he has thrown to any opponent. Most of his struggles against the Chargers came when was a member of the Indianapolis Colts though, as he is 4-1 straight up in five meetings since joining Denver, including last year’s 24-17 playoff win. The Broncos are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now, winners of their last three games and five of six overall, with the lone loss coming against the Seattle Seahawks 26-20 in overtime back in Week 3. The NFL betting lines had Denver closing as a four-point underdog at Seattle in their Super Bowl rematch, the first time the team was not favored since visiting San Diego as a one-point dog in 2012. The Broncos ended up winning that game against the Chargers 35-24.

While the home team in this San Diego versus Denver matchup is a solid favorite, the road team is definitely worth a look considering some key situational betting trends. The Chargers are 6-0 ATS in their last six games as road dogs and 7-2 versus the line in their past nine away from home against AFC West opponents. The Broncos have also struggled against divisional foes at home with a 6-19-1 ATS mark in their last 26 at Mile High.