NFL FOOTBALL BETTING PREDICTION - DENVER BRONCOS @ SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

NFL Football

2007-12-24 - Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers
Monday, December 24, 8:00 p.m. ET
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

San Diego Chargers

San Diego are the AFC West divisional champions this season but many would have expected them to have had a far better record than 9-5 at this stage of the season. They are currently the number 4 seed in the AFC but I am sure they would really want to win their last 2 games and try and clinch the number 3 seed as Jacksonville have confirmed themselves as the number 5 seed.

I am sure Pittsburgh and San Diego would both rather they entertain Cleveland/Tennessee than Jacksonville who are hot right now. The number 3 seed would also avoid playing the New England Patriots until the Championship game.

San Diego are 6-1 at home this season. They have won 5 straight games at home and also 4 straight overall. Since beginning the season 1-3, the Chargers have been playing a lot better and have won 8 of their last 10 games. The defence has restricted teams to under 17 points in each of their last 4 games. They have also scored at least 23 points in each of their last 5 games at home and only Indianapolis have scored more than 14 points in that time here.

Luis Castillo and Michael Turner are unlikely to feature in this match but Shawne Merriman will be available. His return will be another boost to this defence.

Denver Broncos

Denver lost any chance of making the playoffs in their defeat at Houston last week and their record of 6-8 is good for 2nd place in the AFC West. This game is about pride and playing spoiler for their divisional rivals.

The Broncos are a disappointing 2-5 on the road this season. They have lost 3 of their last 4 matches overall and they have also lost 4 of their last 5 matches on the road. They have allowed at least 31 points in those defeats on the road and have allowed at least 31 points in their 3 latest defeats. Deneer only managed 13 points last week in Houston but they have put up at least 20 points in their 5 matches previous to that defeat.

Denver have some concerns regarding receiver Brandon Stokely and he will be a game time decision for this match.

Head to head and stats

San Diego won their meeting in Denver earlier this season 41-3 and that is their 3rd victory in a row against Denver. The Chargers have won 2 of their last 3 at home against Denver and last year they won this game 48-20 in early December 2006.

San Diego are 9-5 ATS this season and a solid 6-1 at home. Denver have struggled against the spread with a record of 4-10 and that is 1-6 on the road. The Chargers have also won 4 of their last 5 against the spread against Denver.

San Diego have won 4 straight against the spread and Denver have struggled recently by losing 3 of their last 4.

PREDICTION

San Diego can't afford to relax just yet as im sure they would wish to avoid having to play Jacksonville and then New England in consecutive weeks in the playoffs which is what their future would hold with defeat here.

Denver play the second of back to back road games but it has been 10 days since their last game so they should be fully rested. Divisional rivals continue to play tough against each other, even when they have nothing to play for but being a spoiler.

However, San Diego are building momentum in time for the playoffs and a defeat could set them back. I feel the Chargers will do more than enough to win this one.

The Pick :