This is from a buddie of mine on a different forum.
Al DeMarco
Sunday's Play
15 Dime - San Diego Chargers
First things first: this is an absolutely meaningless game for the Chargers, who are locked into the # 2 seed in the AFC and have a first-round playoff bye. But don't for a minute think a number of veterans on this team haven't forgotten when they earned the No. 1 seed back in 2006 and promptly got upset by New England at home in their first playoff outing. The subject was brought up this week so I just don't think the 'Bolts are going to roll over and play dead today.
Another thing I thought about when analyzing this game: Back in August, Norv Turner decided to play his veterans and starters more - including LaDainian Tomlinson - in the preseason so his team would avoid its usual slow start out of the starting gate. Any coach that was that concerned about the start of the season surely isn't going to throw away the momentum created by a 10-game winning streak that could be 11 heading into the playoffs, right?
Turner says his starters will see action before getting pulled today. Don't be surprised if they go just the first quarter. But that's not so bad considering this San Diego squad has outscored its foes 73-16 in the opening quarter during its 10-game winning streak. Conversely, today's opponent, Washington, has been outscored 86-41 in the first quarter of games this year.
Am I worried what happens to the San Diego offense once Philip Rivers takes his helmet off for good? Actually, not at all. This isn't like the Colts replacing Peyton Manning with a rookie last week. Instead, when Rivers exits, 10-year veteran Billy Volek will enter.
A little background: When I handicap preseason football, the factor that means the most to me is the strength of back-up quarterbacks because they generally will be the ones whom your money will be riding on. During his career, first at Tennessee and now with San Diego, Volek has always been one of my favorites because he's a decent passer with adequate mobility (important when you're often playing behind a makeshift offensive line) and his teams score points.
Today's contest is in essence a pre-season game for the Chargers so what I wrote above applies with Volek and San Diego's prospects.
Defensively, San Diego will not be as stout with the starters sitting, but I question the Redskins' desire after getting outscored 62-12 in losses to division rivals New York and Dallas the past two weeks. Talk about showing no heart. Washington epitomizes a team playing out the string. The players know Jim Zorn is a dead man walking and total upheaval is coming. Don't expect them to rally and play well in a road finale.
One final tidbit: Washington is 2-10-1 ATS in its last 13 games versus the AFC.
An entertaining game? Probably not. But at this price, I'll lay around a field goal with the home team and call for the Chargers to prevail 23-14.
Strategy Note:
You've heard me discuss this many times on TV and radio; I only believe in buying half points when the number is around 3, 4 or 7. This price is floating between 3 and 3 1/2 so go ahead and buy down the half-point in either case on San Diego.