Well, it finally happened: The Miami Dolphins lost a game with Tua Tagovailoa as the starting quarterback. It was the first one they dropped with him all season. And spoiler alert: We don't expect them to lose a second straight game in Week 14.
Miami will be facing off against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 11, at 4:25 p.m. EST. Linemakers haven't billed this as a "gimme" victory for the Dolphins. And that makes sense. The Chargers have ranked among the NFL's largest disappointments all year—particularly on the offensive side of the ball. But they are getting the chance to play at home on Sunday.
Anyway, here are the latest NFL online betting odds for this matchup, courtesy of BetUS:
Remember to double-check these online NFL betting odds until you actually place your wager. Our Dolphins vs. Chargers betting odds are accurate entering Wednesday, December 7, which gives linemakers plenty of time to make adjustments prior to opening kick-off.
Are you among those who need a place to bet on the Chargers vs. Dolphins in Week 14? We've got your back. Our reviews of the top online sportsbooks are chock full of information that can help you identify the best betting sites for NFL football in 2022.
But who should you bet on to win in Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers? And how should you expect the point spread to play out? And what about the over/under line? Let's get to some Week 14 NFL predictions.
Can the Miami Dolphins Take Care of Business on the Road Against the Los Angeles Chargers?
Some people are already reading too much into the Miami Dolphins' loss to the Niners last week. Their odds to make the NFL playoffs dropped somewhat precipitously. Indeed, they were outscored 33-17 by a team that lost their starting quarterback to a season-ending injury. But the Niners' dominance this year has never been prided upon Jimmy Garoppolo making superstar plays. They kill you by avoiding turnovers on offense and then absolutely trucking you on defense.
That's what happened in Week 13. The 49ers defense was, in many ways, the worst possible matchup for these Dolphins. San Francisco is built to put pressure on the quarterback while also eradicating multiple downfield threats. That's the primary reason why Miami mustered only 14 total first downs—their lowest total of the season. Tua Tagovailoa could never get comfortable in the pocket, and the Niners secondary was all over both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
The Dolphins will face no such issues against the Chargers—who, let's say, have a more forgiving defense. Los Angeles is now 30th out of 32 teams in points allowed per game, and they rank 20th in net yards allowed per passing attempt. To their credit, they have pieced together moments of effective aggressiveness. The Chargers are seventh in interceptions. But the risks they take to generate turnovers aren't always worth it, and they can get absolutely torched.
We expect Tua, Waddle and Hill to all have monster games. Not only that, but we don't see Los Angeles having the firepower to keep up. Though quarterback Justin Herbert was widely ranked among the most popular MVP picks entering this season, the Chargers have found a way to waste his offensive talents with one of least inventive playbooks in the business.
Certain caution must be shown. The Chargers are at home after playing a road-heavy schedule to this point. To be brutally honest, though, we're shocked the Dolphins aren't heavier favorites. We are jumping on them.
OSB Prediction: Miami Dolphins (-136)
The Point Spread for Chargers vs. Dolphins is Surprisingly Small
Here are the latest NFL point spread betting odds for Dolphins vs. Chargers in Week 14:
- Miami Dolphins, -3 (-110)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, +3 (-110)
Maybe we should have expected this given that Miami is only -136 to win outright. And to the Chargers' credit, each of their past three losses have been determined by a touchdown or less. Still, we're picking the Dolphins to cover.
Miami's offense has the capacity to churn out three touchdowns in a single quarter. The Chargers cannot hope to keep up with that scoring rate. The Dolphins don't have a sterling defense, but they're sturdy enough to match up with an opposing offense that doesn't rush the ball or have enough long-range threats for Herbert to target.
In fact, a large part of us expects Miami to win this game by double digits.
OSB Prediction: Miami Dolphins, -3 (-110)
Expect the Buccaneers and 49ers to Battle It Out on the Defensive Side of the Ball
Below you can find the latest NFL over/under betting odds for Chargers vs. Dolphins in Week 14:
- Over 51.5 (-110)
- Under 51.5 (-110)
Until recently, the Dolphins were one of the most bankable over bets in the league. But linemakers have since pushed their game totals up a level, and they have now split the under and over at six games apiece.
This score, specifically, feels too high. Sure, Miami might rack up their usual 30-plus points. But the Chargers offense is beyond inconsistent. They don't have any true threats on the ground, and they hover around the bottom in net yards per passing attempt. That combination makes it awfully tough to move the ball and score at a regular clip.
OSB Prediction: Under 51.5 (-110)
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