NFL 'TNF' Week 15: Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers betting picks, preview

The Week 15 NFL slate kicks off on "Thursday Night Football" with the backup quarterback bowl between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers. Aidan O'Connell will be under center for the Raiders, and the Chargers will roll with North Dakota State product Easton Stick with Justin Herbert out for the season.

It may not be the best prime-time game of the season, but the money is still green if we can cash our bets. 

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers betting odds, preview

Spread: Raiders -3, Over/under: 34.5, Moneyline: Raiders -162 | Chargers +136

There are a ton of intriguing games on the NFL Week 15 slate, but this isn't one of them. The Chargers will be without their two best offensive playmakers in Herbert and Keenan Allen, while the Raiders might be without Josh Jacobs. It could be a struggle for both teams to put points on the board, which is why we're seeing a pedestrian total of 34.5 for "TNF."

Even with Jacobs in the lineup, the Raiders were anemic on offense last week against the Minnesota Vikings. Las Vegas managed just 202 yards of offense and didn't score a single point in the 3-0 loss. They should be able to have more success on offense against L.A.'s 29th-ranked passing defense. 

As for the Chargers, their season has officially gone down the tubes. Herbert fractured a finger on his throwing hand and will be out for the season, and head coach Brandon Staley seems to be on his last legs. Stick, who was drafted in 2019 but has appeared in only two NFL games, will get his first career start on Thursday night. 

'Thursday Night Football' betting picks

Under 34.5 (-110 DraftKings)

We have no confidence in backing either team to cover the spread, but one thing we do have confidence in is both offenses struggling to score points. 

The Chargers could barely move the ball with Herbert and Allen healthy. How is that going to improve when Los Angeles replaces them with Stick and Quentin Johnston. There are no game-breakers left on this offense. With O'Connell under center, the Raiders have scored just 11.5 points per game over the last four weeks. This is going to be ugly, but we can at least profit from it.

Easton Stick over 16.5 rushing yards (-110 FanDuel)

We don't know much about Stick the NFL player, but he did rush for 2,523 yards and 41 touchdowns in four years at North Dakota State. He also rushed 11 times for 82 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason. Stick is going to trust his legs when his protection breaks down or he can't find an open receiver.