The Chargers are 2.5-point road favorites over the Texans as we head into the first game of the NFL Wild Card playoff round. L.A. originally opened as a larger favorite, but the odds have since shifted slightly in Houston's favor. The UNDER 43.5 points is juiced at -115.
Keep reading for our Chargers vs Texans odds & picks for Sunday's playoff contest.
Chargers vs Texans Wild Card Odds
Chargers vs Texans, January 11th, 4:30 pm ET
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Los Angeles Chargers | -2.5 (-110) | -146 | O 43.5 (-105) |
| Houston Texans | +2.5 (-110) | +124 | U 43.5 (-115) |
Chargers vs Texans Wild Card Picks
Chargers -2.5
I tried not to be basic here, but the best bet for this contest is to take the road Chargers and the points. The general betting public agrees with me, too, as 92% of the money at BetMGM is on L.A. to cover. I like that FanDuel offers the -2.5 spread, so you can sneak in under that key three-point threshold.
My baseline for this bet begins by evaluating the differing trajectories of the Chargers and Texans. L.A. raged into the regular-season finale, where its starting lineup beat up a Raiders to mark three straight wins. Houston, however, is on a two-game losing skid, and QB C.J. Stroud hasn't looked functional as a passer since Dec. 15 against Miami. Even then, Stroud had trouble getting the ball deep.
Justin Herbert is better equipped to game-manage this contest, and he's backed by a strong Chargers defense that grades out in the top five on EPA per play.
Additionally, the Chargers played some damn good football on the road this season. For our purpose, LAC went 7-2 ATS on the road this year, covering six of seven games as road favorites.
Chargers vs Texans Wild Card Props
Ladd McConkey Anytime Touchdown +125
McConkey hasn't been an especially sound anytime TD bet, cashing just 31% of the time. However, he is Herbert's more trusted target (after Quentin Johnson's drops earlier this year) and he faces a Texans secondary that has more leaks vs receivers than a wicker canoe.
Houston yields 1.46 receiving touchdowns per game to wideouts, the worst mark in football. Herbert will get opportunities to exploit those weaknesses, whether it's on big plays or red-zone drills. McConkey is the greatest beneficiary.
Chargers vs Texans Wild Card Betting Trends
- LA Chargers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games.
- LA Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Houston's last 8 games at home.
