Jaguars vs. Chargers: 2023 NFL Wild Card Weekend Same Game Parlays Picks & Predictions (Saturday)
The 2022 NFL Playoffs will kick off Saturday with two Wild Card matchups. First, the 49ers will host the Seahawks in the NFC’s two-vs.-seven seed game. Later in the evening, the Jaguars and Chargers will square off in the AFC’s four-vs.-five seed game in Jacksonville.
Both games should be entertaining and have plenty of value offered in Same Game Parlay (SGP) markets. I’ll be playing these two SGPs for Saturday’s games. And here’s a closer look at Jaguars vs. Chargers.
NFL Wild Card Weekend Betting Guide >>
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
2023 NFL Wild Card Weekend Same Game Parlays Best Bets: Jaguars vs. Chargers
Leg 1: Jaguars ML (+110)
I’ve been looking at this line since the matchup was announced on Sunday, and I can’t figure out why the Chargers are favored in this game. Los Angeles has had a great season, but this isn’t a matchup I’d imagine they’re excited about. The Chargers are 2-3 in their last five road games. The two wins include a victory over Indianapolis, who had effectively waved the white flag on their season, and a one-point win in Arizona. The losses include games in Las Vegas and Denver. The loss to the Broncos loss is particularly concerning – the Chargers played their starters late into last week’s game and suffered injuries to Mike Williams and Joey Bosa.
Jacksonville, on the other hand, has been playing exceptional football lately. While the offense struggled in last week’s 20-16 win over the Titans, the defense picked up the slack and scored a key late TD. Jacksonville’s defense has come a long way in recent weeks, allowing a total of 22 points over their last three games (albeit against the Texans, Jets, and Josh Dobbs’ Titans). The Jags also smashed the Chargers back in Week 3 in Los Angeles, 38-10. Trevor Lawrence threw for 270 yards and three TDs in that game, and he’s been playing even better lately.
I expect the Jaguars to win this game. The Chargers’ recent play leaves something to be desired, and Jacksonville matches up well here.
Leg 2: Austin Ekeler 40+ Receiving Yards (+100)
The Jaguars’ defense has been solid all year, but a major weakness of theirs is the tendency for opposing RBs to post productive receiving games. Jacksonville allows 6.1 catches (second-most) for 46.3 yards (third-most) per game to opposing RBs.
This could mean Austin Ekeler is in for a big day in the passing game. Over his last six games, he’s caught 27 of 29 targets for an average of 36 receiving yards per game. If Los Angeles finds themselves trailing – which I expect them to – this could mean more blitzes and aggression from the Jaguars’ defense. This should lead to more check-downs to Ekeler, who can get serious yardage after the catch.
I expect Ekeler to post a high mark for targets, which should lead to plenty of receptions. Given that RBs are a weak point for the Jacksonville defense, 40 receiving yards is a feasible benchmark for Ekeler to exceed on Saturday night.
Parlay Odds: +290
Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our Sports Betting 101 Section — including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners — or head to more advanced sports betting strategies — like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread — to learn more.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts