NFL Betting Prediction |
The Baltimore Ravens head out to the West Coast this week for a huge AFC showdown with the suddenly resurgent San Diego Chargers in a Sunday night tilt at Qualcomm Stadium that has major playoff implications for both teams. Game time is set for 8:20 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on NBC.
Baltimore’s 24-10 victory over Indianapolis as a 16.5-point home favorite raised its record to 10-3 straight-up (7-5-1 against the spread) and kept it even with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North. The total stayed ‘under’ the 41.5-point line against the Colts, but has gone ‘over’ in eight of its previous 12 games.
The Ravens have not really overwhelmed anyone this season but they still have the ninth-highest scoring offense in the league and a shutdown defense that is holding its opponents to an average of just 15.5 points a game. They could be thought of as the ultimate ‘grind it out’ team in the NFL.
San Diego’s two-game winning streak has kept its slim AFC West title hopes alive at 6-7 SU (4-9 ATS) but it trails Denver by two games with just three to play. The total has gone 6-7 in its 13 games this season.
The glimmer of hope for the Chargers has been provided by the much-improved play of quarterback Philip Rivers, who up until the last two games, was having his worst season as a pro. In wins over Jacksonville and Buffalo, he has completed 75.4 percent of his passes for 534 yards and six touchdowns. This Sunday, against a much tougher defense, will be the true test to see if he is all the way back to form.
Baltimore is 1-4 ATS in its last five games against a team with a losing record. The total has gone ‘over’ in five of its last seven road games.
San Diego is 5-1 ATS in its last six games as a home underdog, but just 2-6 ATS in its last eight games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in 10 of its last 11 home games.
The favorite in this series is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings, and the total has stayed ‘under’ in five of the last seven games. Stick with the Ravens’ defense to keep Rivers under wraps in this one as the ‘grinders’ grind-out another win on the road.
The Pick: Baltimore 27 San Diego 23
