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The Baltimore Ravens head to California on 12/22/18 to take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16 of the 2018 NFL Season.
Fighting For A Playoff Spot
The Baltimore Ravens are still alive and fighting for a playoff spot, thanks mainly to rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson. Since Jackson took over the reigns from an injured Joe Flacco, the Ravens have won four out of their five games played. Not only that, Baltimore has rushed for at least 190 yards in five straight games. With Jackson as their starting quarterback, the Ravens have averaged 230.4 rushing yards per game.
Rookie running back Cus Edwards was merely a part of a team that rushed for less than 100 yards per game. Five games later, Edwards has 557 rushing yards on 111 attempts or 5 yards per carry. Jackson hasn’t thrown for more than 178 passing yards in a game but he’s rushed for 566 yards with three touchdowns on the season. Sure, the Ravens haven’t thrown the ball as much with Flacco as starter but they are winning and that’s what matters most.
Baltimore Ravens vs Los Angeles Chargers 12/22/18
Moneyline Odds: Ravens +190, Chargers -220
Odds from betonline.ag as of 12/20/18
Already In The Playoffs
The Los Angeles Chargers are on a roll with 10 wins in their last 11 games played. The Chargers are also on a four game winning streak entering this game and clinched a playoff spot with their Week 15 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Now that the Chargers are in the playoffs, the next goal is to take a first round bye and that’s what this game is worth for them. And while the Ravens have Jackson to be thankful for their current roll, the Chargers have leaned on the MVP season by Phillip Rivers.
Rivers has definitely put his name alongside Patrick Mahomes in the MVP conversation. The Chargers’ starting quarterback has thrown for a total of 3,951 passing yards with 31 touchdowns and only eight interceptions on the season. Rivers’ favorite target is Keenan Allen. Allen is the Chargers’ top wide receiver with 88 catches, 1074 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Star running back Melvin Gordon, who’s missed the last three games, is expected to play against the Ravens. Gordon has rushed for 802 yards with nine touchdowns plus he has 44 catches for a total of 453 yards.
Who Wins?
Baltimore is 4-1 SU in their last five games played. The Ravens are 7-14 in their last 21 games on the road. The L.A. Chargers are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games played and 5-1 SU in their last six home games played. Head to head, the Ravens are 6-3 SU in their last 9 games against the Chargers.
Almost but not quite. That’s perhaps the best way to describe the Los Angeles Chargers’ last couple weeks as they flirted with disaster before coming up with victories. In fact, Los Angeles needed fourth quarter comebacks to win two of those three games. Sure, a win as a win but those close calls could be a warning sign for bettors.
Lamar Jackson has really been good for the Ravens this season and Baltimore has looked like a different team in the last month or so. But overall, I think that the Chargers’ defense can handle the Ravens offense and with Los Angeles’ top two weapons back in action on Saturday, the Bolts’ offense is going to be too much for the Baltimore defense to handle.
We’re picking the Los Angeles Chargers to beat the Baltimore Ravens on 12/22/18.
Other Bets To Make
The Ravens are 7-7 ATS in 14 games played this season. Baltimore is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played on the road. The Chargers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall. Los Angeles is just 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games. Head to head, the L.A. Chargers are 4-2 ATS in their last six games against the Ravens.
Baltimore Ravens vs Los Angeles Chargers 12/22/18
Spread Odds: Ravens +4.5 (-113), Chargers -4.5 (-107)
Odds from betonline.ag as of 12/20/18
Los Angeles hasn’t fared well against the spread at home but they are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with a winning record. Baltimore meanwhile is only 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games versus teams with winning records. I’m rolling with the home team here.
Prediction Chargers -4.5
The total has gone under in eight out of the last 12 games played by Baltimore. The under is also 4-2 in the Ravens’ last six games on the road. The total has likewise gone under in four out of the last five home games of the Chargers. Head to head, the total has gone over in five out of the last six games between these two teams.
Baltimore Ravens vs Los Angeles Chargers 12/22/18
Over/Under Odds: Over 43.5 -110, Under 43.5 -110
Odds from betonline.ag as of 12/20/18
The total has gone under in 14 out of the last 17 December games played by the Chargers.The under has been the play for the Chargers at StubHub Center lately as the under is 4-1 in their last five home games with an average combined score of 44.4 points. Now if we turn the tables, the only logical way for the Ravens to win this game is for them to prevent Rivers and the Chargers from moving the ball, therefore it should be a low scoring game. I think this one isn’t topping the total.
Prediction: Under 43.5
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