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- Los Angeles is a 3-point home favorite over the Dolphins in Week 1 of the NFL season
- Vic Fangio takes over Miami’s defense while Kellen Moore is now at the controls in Los Angeles
- Sunday’s game kicks off from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA at 4:25 pm ET
Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert face off for the second time in their careers after being selected one spot apart, at No. 5 and No. 6 overall, in the 2020 NFL Draft. Tagovailoa enjoyed a breakout campaign under coach Mike McDaniel in 2022, but must prove he can avoid the concussions that have plagued him in the past. Meanwhile, hopes for Herbert are sky-high with the hire of new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Will the Chargers or Dolphins win the Week 1 matchup? Before we examine the odds, here’s where you can find the best Super Bowl betting tips and the top betting sites for NFL football in 2023.
Chargers vs Dolphins
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Miami Dolphins | +3.0 (-110) | +141 | Un 50.5 (-113) |
| Los Angeles Chargers | -3.0 (-110) | -161 | Ov 50.5 (-107) |
Coaching matters
Los Angeles is a 3.0-point home favorite over Miami in SoFi Stadium. In addition to the juicy quarterback showdown, the Sunday afternoon tilt features the most-intriguing coaching matchup of Week 1. Former Cowboys coordinator Kellen Moore has promised to open up the Chargers’ passing attack. But that may prove easier said than done against the Dolphins new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who is the former mentor of LAC head coach Brandon Staley.
On the other side of the ball, Staley will have his hands full stopping Mike McDaniel’s explosive attack. Expertly utilizing the speed of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Miami had the sixth-ranked offense in the NFL last season.
#Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa responds to ESPN's Ryan Clark, who accused him of not working out this offseason:
“I would appreciate it if you kept my name out of your mouth.”
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 23, 2023
Tua vs Herbert
Even though Justin Herbert has the most passing yards (14,089) through a player’s first three seasons in NFL history, 2022 was a disappointment for the Chargers’ signal caller. Struggling with a rib injury for most of the year, Herbert passed for only 25 touchdowns, 13 shy of the 38 he threw in his sophomore season.
Tua Tagovailoa also tossed 25 TDs in 2022 while leading the league in yards per attempt (8.9), yards per completion (13.7), and passer rating (105.5). Unlike Herbert, he led his team to a playoff berth. However, Tua missed that playoff start, as well as five other regular-season games, with concussions.
Dolphins injuries
Miami has had a rough preseason period, losing star cornerback Jalen Ramsey to a knee injury. Running back Jeff Wilson is also on injured reserve, but that may open up touches for rookie De’Von Achane, who returned to practice on Monday. Terron Armstead is also hopeful to play Week 1. The Dolphins went 1-3 in the four games that their starting left tackle missed last season, averaging just over 16 points.
In comparison, the Chargers are healthy at wide receiver after an injuries hampered Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in 2022. Star defensive end Joey Bosa is also back in business after missing 12 games with a groin ailment last year.
"Justin Herbert could have a truly elite season in 2023." pic.twitter.com/cM3h2RRxOW
— Establish The Run (@EstablishTheRun) August 29, 2023
Best Bet
With the possible exception of Jets vs Bills, this might be the best game of Week 1. While everything seems to be trending in the Chargers’ favor, Miami has coaching advantages on both sides of the ball.
We like the Dolphins to cover and win outright while Vic Fangio’s defense puts the clamps on the Bolts’ offense in a disappointing season-debut for Herbert.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
