Skip to main content

Rams vs. Chargers Odds, Picks, Predictions Week 17: Can Mayfield Lead Rams to Another Upset?

Connor Cooper

Last Updated: December 30, 2022 10:42 AM EST • 2 min 33 sec read.

Crosstown rivals Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers collide at SoFi Stadium for the first time. See who we like to cover the battle of L.A. in our Rams-Chargers pick based on the top odds.

It’s been a disappointing season for the defending Super Bowl-champion Rams (5-10), but they’re finishing strong. They blasted the Denver Broncos 51-14 last week for their second upset in three games with Baker Mayfield at quarterback, improving to 4-1 against the spread in its last five.

The 9-6 Chargers are playing some of their best football down the stretch, as well, beating the Indianapolis Colts 20-3 on Monday for their third straight victory. That win clinched the Bolts’ first postseason berth since 2018, though they can still move up in the AFC standings with a strong finish to the season.

Here is our best Rams vs. Chargers NFL pick for Week 17 (odds via BetRivers; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

  Check out our NFL best bets and all of our top NFL picks for Week 17!  

Rams vs. Chargers Game Info

Date: Sunday, Jan. 1, 4:25 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Weather: 58 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, 13-mph winds

Editor's note: Hey Ohio! Welcome to legal sports betting. Check out the best sites for Ohio sports betting and the best Ohio sportsbook promos!  

Rams vs. Chargers Odds

Rams vs. Chargers Odds Analysis

The Rams’ blowout of Denver last week caused oddsmakers to drop the spread from +9 to +6.5 on Monday, and the line has held steady since then despite 66% of tickets coming on the Chargers.

Action on the total has been extremely one-sided, with 74% of the handle and 79% of bets supporting the Over. The total rose from an opener of 41 to as high as 53 before coming back down to 42.5 as of Friday morning.

Rams vs. Chargers Pick

Los Angeles Rams +6.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Rams are 2-1 since claiming Baker Mayfield off the scrap heap, and the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner is a big reason why. Mayfield has completed nearly 70% of his passes as a Ram with four touchdowns and one interception, including a solid 230-yard, two-touchdown performance in last week’s rout of the Broncos.

While Mayfield is highly motivated to prove himself with free agency looming in a month, the Chargers might not be completely focused this week after clinching a playoff spot with Monday’s 20-3 win in Indianapolis. The Bolts also can’t be trusted to cover spreads of nearly a touchdown, with seven of their nine victories this season coming by five points or less.

Both defenses are playing really well at the moment, increasing the likelihood of a tight game. The Chargers have given up just 34 points in the last three weeks combined, while the Rams have allowed just 54 points during that span and have forced 12 takeaways in their last five outings. That won’t make it any easier for Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who has been picked three times in the last two weeks and didn’t throw a touchdown pass in either of those games.

These coaching staffs are also very familiar with each other as Chargers head coach Brandon Staley was an assistant on Rams head coach Sean McVay’s staff just a few years ago. Don’t be surprised if this battle of L.A. goes down to the wire.

Rams vs. Chargers Best Odds

BetRivers (-109)

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsPointsBet
+6.5+6.5+6.5+6.5+6.5
-110-110-110-110-110

All five of our top recommended sportsbooks are offering the exact same point spread and -110 juice on the Rams-Chargers game, so any of them is a solid option for backing the Rams in this contest.

However, if you’ve got a BetRivers account, you can get a slightly better price with the Rams +6.5 -109.

Rams-Chargers picks made 12/30/2022 at 9:20 a.m. ET.

Here are our Best NFL Betting Sites:

* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Related Pages

Best Online Sportsbooks | Best U.S. Sportsbook Promos

Written By:
Connor Cooper
Connor Cooper has written about sports in various capacities for more than 20 years, including as a newspaper reporter, sports handicapper, and betting analyst. He originates hockey plays every day throughout the NHL season, regularly bets his own opinions on NFL and college football, and relies on handicappers he trusts to find daily action in basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, and golf. A diehard Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan growing up in the Toronto area, Connor quickly shed all his allegiances once he realized that making money betting on sports was much more fun than cheering for his favorite team. Connor won’t hesitate to bet on — or against — anybody if that’s where the value lies. In addition to analyzing recent and season-long statistics, Connor always looks to account for the human element when breaking down games, weighing situational and motivational factors into his handicapping process. He's also a big believer in finding creative ways to generate more value, constantly scouring BetMGM, Caesar, FanDuel, and other regulated sportsbooks' derivative markets such as team totals, alternate lines, and player props.