Charger Report

Despite winning streak, NFL experts don't believe in Chargers in wild Super Bowl odds

Despite a three-game winning streak, 7-3 overall record and an undefeated record against their division, it's clear the Los Angeles Chargers are not being taken seriously.
Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Despite a three-game winning streak, 7-3 overall record and an undefeated record against their division, it's clear the Los Angeles Chargers are not being taken seriously. To win Super Bowl LX or even, for that matter, to win the AFC West.

The Kansas City Chiefs have won the West nine consecutive years and they still have Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid. We get it. But the Chargers beat them convincingly in Week 1 and the Chiefs are only 5-4. The last time we saw them on the field they were handled by a Buffalo Bills team that promptly went out and lost by 17 points to the lowly Miami Dolphins.

MORE: ESPN makes buzzworthy prediction about Chargers' defensive coordinator Jesse Minter

But old habits die hard, therefore the Chiefs - despite only the 16th-best record in the NFL - still have the best odds to win Super Bowl LX. They currently sit at +600, ahead of NFC teams the Rams, Eagles and Lions. The next-closest AFC team is another team seemingly in decline: the Bills at +950.

Hold on to your hats, Bolts fans. It gets more disrespectful. The AFC team with the next-best odds are the Ravens (+1500), meaning the conference's three "favorites" to get to Levi's Stadium in February all have a worse record than Jim Harbaugh's team.

The Broncos - who host the Chiefs Sunday afternoon - have the 10th-best odds at +1900, followed by the New England Patriots at +2000 and ... way down at No. 12 ... the Chargers at +2500.

MORE: Chargers' patchwork OL - without trade acquisition Trevor Penning - dominates Steelers

NFL experts obviously don't believe in the upstart and division-leading Broncos or Patriots, either. But it's wild that only three teams have more wins than the Chargers but 11 have better Super Bowl odds.

And to think: the Chargers have only the third-best odds in their own division. Harbaugh definitely has bulletin-board motivational material.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Ladd McConkey
Ladd McConkey | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.

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