Skip to content

Expert prediction

Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Chargers Odds, and Picks (Sep 10)

  • Keith McCarthy
  • Sep 4, 2023 at 6:19 PM EDT

Pick rationale

Analysis & key factors

  • Miami went 9-8 last season, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
  • The Chargers also lost in the first round, after going 10-7 on the year.
  • These two teams last met on December 11, in a game the Chargers won 23-17.

The NFL season kicks off this week. Let’s preview the upcoming Dolphins vs Chargers matchup. Both of these teams have fully stacked offenses, but need some defensive improvement to keep pace in the AFC.


How to Watch

  • CBS

Preview

The Dolphins made the playoffs last season, despite finishing with a -2 point differential. Miami’s success was directly related to the health of QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has missed 4 games in each of the past two seasons. If he manages to stay healthy, Miami has a very dangerous offense with WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. They’ll also need some improvement from a defense that ranked in the bottom 10 in 2022.

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 01: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill 10 in warm up before a game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins on January 1, 2023, at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA JAN 01 Dolphins at Patriots Icon482230101055
IMAGO/Icon SMI

Los Angeles had a pretty similar season to the Dolphins. They finished with a near-even point differential of +7, before losing in the first round of the playoffs. Like Miami, the Chargers rode the back of their stacked offense, while posting below average results on defense. They have all of those offensive assets returning this year, so if the defense can improve even slightly, the Chargers will be better than expected.


Prediction

When these two teams met towards the end of last season, it was a surprisingly low-scoring bout. I expect it to be a much more offensive matchup this time around, despite both teams working on their defenses over the offseason. This is one of the week’s toughest games to predict and should be a very close match. In the end, I like Miami’s speedy offense helping them pull off a road upset against the Chargers defense.

NFL Picks:

  • Dolphins 31, Chargers 28 ()

Market

Odds currently unavailable

No odds are available for this selection yet.

NFL

More Predictions

NFL Insight

NFL Week 9 Upsets: Commanders Nasty Underdogs, Cardinals and Raiders Defending the Spread

Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season features several situational spots where short underdogs hold tactical, scheduling, or matchup advantages. There aren’t as many choices as in previous rounds, but there’s still enough for us bettors to make some money. Here is one straight-up upset pick and two point-spread underdog picks, backed by key tactical […]

Nikola Velickovic 3 min read

NFL Insight

NFL Week 9 Player Props: Pitts to Score a TD, Flournoy Continues to Grow

NFL Week 9 player props are here. We’ve waited to see the situation regarding potential absences and injuries, and with game day just around the corner, it was time to unleash the best player prop picks for this round. We have three selections for our bettors, carefully picked and evaluated following a thorough process. After […]

Nikola Velickovic 2 min read

NFL Insight

Broncos vs. Panthers Week 9 Picks: Young’s Poor Protection Will Cost Carolina

Best bet: Broncos ATS pick: Broncos -2.5 Bet Broncos vs. Panthers at BetUS Denver Broncos (6-2) hit the road to face the Carolina Panthers (3-4) and continue their excellent run. The Panthers have been on the downhill lately and are under pressure to win this game and get back to the winning side. Stay with […]

Nikola Velickovic 2 min read

NFL Insight

Giants vs. Eagles Week 9 Picks: Rested Giants After a Win in Philly

Best bet: Giants ATS pick: Giants -3.5 Bet Giants vs. Eagles at BetUS NFC East is completely wild these days. The New York Giants (4-2-1) lead the group, while the Philadelphia Eagles (2-6) sit last. The home team is in huge trouble, having multiple stars out due to injuries. The Giants also have some absences, […]

Nikola Velickovic 2 min read

NFL Insight

Browns vs. Saints Week 9 Picks: Indoor Arena Will Create Problems for Cleveland

Best bet: Saints -1.5 Straight up pick: Saints moneyline Bet Cardinals vs Cowboys at BetUS Cleveland Browns (5-3) are still in the mix for the playoffs. However, they will need to win in New Orleans against the Saints (2-5). Browns are very light underdogs here, sitting at +100 before we started writing this article. We […]

Nikola Velickovic 2 min read