Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

The fifth-seeded Los Angeles Chargers open the NFL Playoffs with a visit to the No. 4 seed Houston Texans on Saturday at 4:30 PM ET.

The Chargers are looking for their first playoff win in six seasons under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles won three straight to close the season and boast the league's No. 1 scoring defense, allowing just 17.7 points per game.

The Texans made the playoffs and won the AFC South for the second straight season under coach DeMeco Ryans. The team is battered in multiple positions, most notably at wide receiver, where Houston has lost Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell for the season.

Below are our experts' picks and predictions for this contest.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans betting picks and predictions

Los Angeles Chargers -3.0 (+100)

Los Angeles' defense, which only allowed 301 total points, has been a force all season under Harbaugh. But it's their offense that is making headlines going into the postseason.

The Chargers have won three straight heading into the playoffs, and averaged 36 points per game in those three victories.

Quarterback Justin Herbert has done a superb job of protecting the ball this season. He has thrown just three interceptions and lost only one fumble while tallying 3,870 yards and 23 passing TDs. Despite entering the season with an unproven receiving corps, his favorite target emerged as the season progressed.

Rookie Ladd McConkey, a second-round pick out of Georgia, didn't have a 100-yard receiving game until Week 7. However, he finished as the team leader in receptions (82) and yards (1,149) while hauling in seven touchdowns. McConkey led the team in receiving in eight of its last 11 games and he garnered 83 or more yards in seven of those 11 contests.

The Texans counter with second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, who threw for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns, but was also intercepted 12 times which was tied for fourth-worst in the league. It didn't help that Stroud lost Diggs - one of the team's big acquisitions last offseason - midway through the year, as well as Dell to a gruesome injury late in the campaign.

Houston's other big-name offseason addition, RB Joe Mixon, led the team with 1,016 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. Nico Collins had 68 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns.

Defensively, Houston offers a pair of double-digit sack performers in former Minnesota Vikings star Danielle Hunter (12) and second-year stud Will Anderson Jr. (11). Derek Stingley and Calen Bullock each have five interceptions to pace the secondary. Houston was 14th in the league in scoring defense, allowing 21.9 points per contest.

The trends favor Los Angeles, which went 12-4-1 against the spread this season. The team was 7-2 ATS away from home, where the team went 6-3 straight up. The Chargers are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games and 5-0 ATS in their last five road competitions.

The Texans finished 7-8-2 against the spread this season, including 3-4-1 ATS at home, where the team went 5-3 straight up.

Look for the Chargers to hold up their standing as road favorites by knocking off host Houston and covering that three-point spread.

Under 42.5 Total Points (-110)

Los Angeles has played to the over in four straight games, thanks to the emergence of a more explosive offense, but has only played to the Over eight times in 17 games total this season.

Houston, meanwhile, has only played to the Over six times in 17 games, including a 1-6-1 Over/Under record at home.

This is the playoff opener, mid-day Saturday, and those can often be low scoring affairs. Look for these two teams to combine for Under 42.5 points.

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Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans odds

Los Angeles Chargers	-160 ML
Houston Texans	+135 ML
Spread	LA Chargers -3.0
Total Points	O/U 42.5

Read the latest outright betting picks and predictions for the 2025 NFL Playoffs.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans player props

Anytime Touchdown

Joe Mixon (Houston Texans)	-110
J.K. Dobbins (Los Angeles Chargers)	+125
Ladd McConkey (Los Angeles Chargers)	+130
Nico Collins (Houston Texans)	+150
Quentin Johnston (Los Angeles Chargers)	+220
Will Dissly (Los Angeles Chargers)	+333

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.