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With the NFL regular season fast approaching, we at SportsUntapped are taking our crystal balls out of storage and examining each team’s full 16-game schedule to prognosticate how the 2011 season will play out. We’ll look at all 32 teams and reveal each one’s final record. Next up: Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers, the early favorites to win the AFC West this year.

San Diego Chargers

Last year’s record: 9-7.

Vegas Over/Under on 2011 Regular Season Wins: 10.

First four games:
Sept. 11 Minnesota, 4:15 p.m.
Sept. 18 at New England, 4:15 p.m.
Sept. 25 Kansas City, 4:05 p.m.
Oct. 2 Miami, 4:15 p.m.

Other than the Patriots, the early schedule doesn’t look too tough, but the Chargers seem to always start slow. Still let’s say two wins and a 2-2 record after four games.

Second four games:
Oct. 9 at Denver, 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 16 BYE
Oct. 23 at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Oct. 31 at Kansas City, 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 Green Bay, 4:15 p.m.

This is a pretty brutal stretch of road games followed by a visit from the defending Super Bowl champs — I see only one win there and another bad first half with a record of 3-5.

First four games of the second half:
Nov. 10 Oakland, 8:20 p.m.
Nov. 20 at Chicago, 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 27 Denver, 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 5 at Jacksonville, 8:30 p.m.

Things should pick up here with the trip to the Bears being the toughest. Three wins here should get San Diego back even at 6-6 after 12 games.

Last four games:
Dec. 11 Buffalo, 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 18 Baltimore, 8:20 p.m.-x
Dec. 24 at Detroit, 4:05 p.m.
Jan. 1 at Oakland, 4:15 p.m.

The Chargers should be able to finish strong and win three of their last four to end up with the same record as last year, 9-7.