Sunday 12/9/18 thread for free handicapping service plays and expert predictions for NCAAFB, NFL & NBA games.
SAL MICHAELS
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Bengals vs. Chargers
Free Play on Bengals +14½ -105
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JACK JONES
Jack’s Free Pick Sunday: Oakland Raiders +10
I think there’s value on the Oakland Raiders as double-digit home underdogs this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Contrary to popular belief, the Raiders have not quit, and that has shown up in a big way the last three weeks.
Three weeks ago, the Raiders went on the road and upset the Cardinals 23-21 as 4.5-point favorites. And they deserved to cover as 13-point dogs at Baltimore, but lost 17-34 only after two non-offensive touchdowns by the Ravens with one on defense and one on special teams. So that was a 20-17 game when you take away those two gift touchdowns. And then last week the Raiders only lost 33-40 at home to the Chiefs as 14-point underdogs.
The Steelers are reeling right now with back-to-back losses to the Broncos and Chargers. And now they’ve become one-dimensional with the injury to James Connor, who has rushed for 909 yards with 467 receiving yards on the season, accounting for 1,376 yards from scrimmage. The drop-off to the backups are huge, especially in the passing game. Jaylen Samuels averages just 2.6 yards per carry, while Steven Ridley averages 3.1 per carry. These two will split Connors’ workload.
Big Ben is going to have his hands full this week. The Steelers now have to throw the ball 40-50 times in this game, and they just aren’t that good when they are one-dimensional. Even this bad Raiders defense can slow down a one-dimensional offense. Plus, Big Ben is terrible in this road. He is 1-9 ATS in his career as a double-digit road favorite. Also, Big Ben is 2-4 SU & 1-5 ATS in his career against the Raiders. He just hasn’t been able to figure out this team.
Plays against road teams (Pittsburgh) - off two or more consecutive upset losses as a favorite, with a winning record on the season playing a losing team are 29-8 (78.4%) ATS since 1983. The Steelers are 7-20-1 ATS in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Oakland is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings. Bet the Raiders Sunday.
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JIMMY BOYD
1* Free NFL Pick on Tampa Bay Bucs +9
The public perception here is that last week's loss to the Cowboys was just a hiccup in the Saints season and there's no doubt they bounce back with an easy win over the Bucs, securing revenge from that upset loss at home to Tampa Bay in Week 1.
It's one thing to go on the road and beat a division opponent, but it's asking a lot for a team to win by double-digits against a division rival. We know the Bucs have the offense that can keep pace with New Orleans if this turns into a shootout and I think the defense is going to surprise some people with how well it plays in this game.
I know how bad Tampa Bay's defense was early on, but in their last 4 games the Bucs have held 3 of their 4 opponents under 20 points. The important thing is the improvement came from a change in schemes, so there's reason to think it's not a fluke. Since Tampa fired Mike Smith and promoted linebackers coach Mark Duffner to defensive coordinator, they have 24 sacks (2nd in the NFL during that time), are getting off the field 33.3% of the time on 3rd down (T-3rd) and are allowing the 10th fewest passing yards/game at 274.4.
There's no question the pressure Dallas was able to put on Drew Brees really disrupted the Saints offense and given how well Tampa has been getting to the quarter, the Saints offense might be stalled for another week. Either way, I love the Bucs to keep this one closer than the number posted here. Take Tampa Bay!
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DUSTIN HAWKINS
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Saints vs. Bucs
Free Play on Bucs +9 -110
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RAY MONOHAN
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Steelers vs. Raiders
Oakland +10
The Raiders are worth a flyer here. Oakland's offense came alive last week against the Chiefs as this team is still playing with some excitement and passion.
They seem to play up to their competition, which is a good sign here catching this many points against Pittsburgh. The Steelers defense looked gassed last week in a 33-30 loss to the Chargers.
Some trends to note. Steelers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games in December. Underdog is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings head to head as well as the Steelers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
Expect Oakland to do the same here as the Chargers did as far as turning the pace up.
Back Oakland. Good Luck, Razor Ray.
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DOUG UPSTONE
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Panthers vs. Browns
Panthers-1 -115
Play Against home teams home teams like CLEVELAND rushing for 4.5 or more YPA, against a team with an average rushing defense (3.5 to 4.5 YPA), after gaining 50 or less rushing yards in last game. In the last 34 years, teams like the Browns are 5-23 ATS!
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TIM MICHAEL
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Ravens vs. Chiefs
T.M. Selection: Kansas City Chiefs (FREE PLAY)
The Chiefs’ offense continues to roll, most recently a 40-33 victory over Oakland. Baltimore enters off a tough 26-16 road win in Atlanta, leaving everything on the line in that one, knowing that it had a difficult task ahead of it this weekend. So far Ravens’ backup QB Lamar Jackson has been extremely solid, but I think he’ll have a hard time keeping pace with Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes, who has a 41/10 TD:INT (Jackson has a 2:3 TD/INT.) Baltimore has the No. 1 defense, allowing 17.8 PPG, but the Chiefs have the No. 1 offense, averaging a whopping 37 PPG. Note as well that Baltimore is just 2-4 ATS in its last six as a road dog in the 3.5 to seven points range, while Kansas City is already 4-1 ATS this year as a favorite in the 3.5 to 9.5 points range. Consider the home side in this one.
T.M. Prediction: 35-21 Kansas City.
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INFO PLAYS
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Saints vs. Bucs
1* Free Play on Bucs +9 -110
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MARK WILSON
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Ravens vs. Chiefs
Free Play on Ravens +7½ -110
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CALVIN KING
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Falcons vs. Packers
[1%] Free Play on Packers -6
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DENNIS MACKLIN
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Jets vs. Bills
DMack's Free Play for Sunday, December 9, 2018 is on the Buffalo Bills
Both teams are off soul crushing losses losses in Week 13 but can't see the Jets recovering from theirs. The Flyboys had the Texan dead to rights but couldn't finish as the Titans stormed back from a 16-6 halftime deficit to win with a 13-0 fourth quarter. The Bills are flawed for sure but are playing hard every play and lost to Miami dropped a wide open bunny in the end zone that would have gave the Bills a win. Josh Allen is proving a lot of people wrong with his arm and legs and gets the money in a matchup versus what we figure will be a lifeless Jet team.
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MARC LAWRENCE
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Saints vs. Bucs
Bucs+10 -120
Play - Tampa Bay Bucs (Game 114).
Edges - Bucs: 6-1 ATS last seven as a home dog, including 3-0 SUATS the last three … Saints: 0-3 ATS un the second of a three-game road trip … With New Orleans just 3-5 SU and 2-6 ATS in division games when coming off a SU favorite loss, we recommend a 1* play on Tampa Bay. Thank you and good luck as always.
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JOSEPH D'AMICO
Sunday's FREE NFL WINNER: Los Angeles Chargers.
Game 126.
1:05 pm pst.
I don't like laying DD's in the NFL, but the Chargers, at 9-3, are chasing the Chiefs (10-2) for the AFC West title. There is no smart bettor that will tell you to play a Bengals team which has dropped four in a row and six of their last seven, and is now without their starting QB and one of the best WR's in football. Even with Andy Dalton and AJ Green, this team wasn't all that good. Los Angeles showed just how good of a team they are overcoming a 16-point deficit to beat Pittsburgh in Heinz Field last week. Phillip Rivers is having an MVP-worthy season and will shred the 31st ranked pass defense of Cincinnati here, while Dustin Ekeler and Justin Jackson team up in Melvin Gordon's absence to steamroll the 32nd ranked run defense. Cincinnati is 1-4 ATS the last five vs. AFC foes and 1-6 ATS the last seven overall. Los Angeles is 5-2 ATS the last seven vs. AFC opponents and 4-1 ATS the last five overall. Take the Chargers. Thank you.
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MIKE LUNDIN
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Steelers vs. Raiders
UNDER 51½ -110
#NFL FREE PICK FROM MIKE LUNDIN
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a huge favorite at Oakland Sunday afternoon, and that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone considering how the home team has played of late.
The Raiders have won only two games all season and had been held to a total of 49 points through their last four games before recording 33 in a loss to KC last time out.
The Steelers are a solid 4-1 away from home this season, despite the fact that their offense doesn't travel all that well. They've averaged just 23.2 ppg on the road but also allowed opponents to score only 20.8 ppg.
We can also note that first-year starting running back James Conner (fifth in the NFL in rushing yards) will miss the game due to a sprained ankle.
Under is 16-6 in Steelers last 22 vs. a team with a losing record. Under is 6-2 in Raiders last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
Free pick on UNDER.
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LARRY NESS
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Saints vs. Bucs
Bucs+10½ -130
My free play is on the TB Bucs at 1:00 ET. The New Orleans Saints saw their 10-game winning streak (run of nine consecutive ATS wins, as well) end with the team's Week 13 Thursday night 13-10 loss at Dallas. The 10-2 Saints will continue their march toward a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs when they visit the 5-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. New Orleans dropped a 48-40 decision to Tampa Bay its Week 1 home opener and is coming of its worst offensive performance of the season last week in a 13-10 loss at the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 29. As for the Bucs, they are in third place in the NFC South but are starting to play better with wins in their last two contests. New Orleans can clinch the NFC South with a win on Sunday and is counting on a bounce-back performance from QB Drew Brees. The age-less Brees posted a season-low 71.6 QB rating last week in passing for just 127 yards.Brees is completing 75.5% on the season with 30 TDPs and just three INTs (123.2 QB rating). The Saints are averaging 34.9 PPG (3rd), so one could (should?) expect a better effort here. After all, New Orleans looked unstoppable during the second half of its 10-game run, averaging 41 points during its last five wins before Brees was held to a season-low 127 yards with one touchdown and only his third interception of the year by the Cowboys (Saints managed only 176 total). Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 417 yards and four TDPs in the Bucs' Week 1 win over the Saints but Tampa Bay has turned the current QB duties back to Jameis Winston. Winston has helped the Bucs to back-to-back wins by playing turnover-free football with a total of four TDs and zero INTs. The Tampa Bay defense has also done its job, allowing only 26 points. Tampa Bay opened the season 2-0 but then lost seven of eight. The back-to-back victories have resuscitated the Bucs' playoff hopes but there is no margin of error the rest of the way. The knee-jerk reaction is to expect the Sainst to rebound from last week's loss (first since Week 1) and avenge that Week 1 to the Bucs. However, the Bucs looked revived. Tampa Bay is 4-0 ATS in its last four December games, including a Week 17 upset of New Orleans last year (31-24 at plus-6). Throw in these two factoids (the Saints are 1-4 ATS in their last five visits to Tampa and that Saints have failed to cover 10 of their last 14 games when favored by at least seven points) and taking the points seems the right way to go.
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ASA
NFL PLAY ON Under 48.5 Points - New England @ Miami, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET
Windy conditions are forecast in Miami on Sunday which won’t help either passing game. Pats head coach Bill Belichick has been known for locking up the division early and then going conservative down the stretch. Last year they averaged 30 PPG through their first 11 games and once the division was pretty much locked up, they averaged 26 PPG their last 5. This year they have the AFC East pretty much in hand with a 3 game lead with 4 to play. Their offense has gone run heavy over the last few weeks as Belichick goes conservative late in the season again. The last two weeks the Pats have run the ball 75 times while passing just 63 times. They’ve failed to top 27 points in 4 of their last 5 games. In their last 6 trips to Miami, the Patriots have scored more than 23 points only once. Another thing that Belichick teams have done is they get better defensively as the year goes on. Last year this team had a horrendous start defensively but they turned it around late allowing only 13.4 PPG over their last 7 games. It looks like they are heading in that direction again as the New England defense has given up 17 points or less in 4 of their last 5 games. They shouldn’t have trouble keeping a bad Miami offense in check on Sunday. The Fins are averaging just 20 PPG on the season and rank 29th in total offense at 302 YPG. Over their last 4 games Miami has totaled 168, 294, 175, and 313 total yards. Earlier this year vs the Patriots they scored only 7 points on 172 total yards. We have a feeling that the Patriots goal here will be to run the ball as much as they can again and grind out a win. Brady’s knee has been bothering him and they want to keep Gronkowski healthy heading into the playoffs. This number is set at 48 and the Patriots have not topped 48 points since October 21st. Miami has gone UNDER the total 4 straight games as well. Lastly, since 2005 when two division teams match up in week 11 or later and the total is set at 45 or higher, the UNDER has cashed 62% of the time (169-104 to the under). We like the UNDER in this division rivalry.
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TEDDY COVERS
Event: (113) New Orleans Saints at (114) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sport/League: NFL
Date/Time: December 9, 2018 1PM EST
Play: Total Under 55.0 (-108)
3% Take Tampa Bay – New Orleans UNDER (#113-114)
The Bucs were one of the strongest Over teams in the NFL; 8-2 to the Over heading into their game against the 49ers two weeks ago. But something noticeably different happened in that ballgame compared to ANY previous Bucs game this season – Jameis Winston settled for checkdown throws. No surprise, then, that the game stayed nearly three touchdowns UNDER the total.
It’s worth noting that in Tampa’s previous home game, they held the Redskins to 16 points, another UNDER cash. Then, last week, the Bucs picked off Cam Newton four times, three in the red zone; the type of inspired defensive effort that has been the exception, not the rule for Tampa this season. In fact, it’s surely worth noting that all four of the Bucs Unders this season have cashed right here at home.
Expect plenty of checkdown throws from Winston again this week; a QB who made it very clear – he’s not trying to produce Fitz-Magic the rest of the way by taking deep shots downfield. “I don't have anything to prove to anyone. What we have to do is win. The easiest way to win is to keep everything simple and not beat yourself."
Dirk Koetter concurs with the ‘safe checkdown throws’ approach. Here’s his postgame quote: “Jameis played quarterback the way you need to play it in the NFL until you get into desperation time, which we never did today. Jameis wasn't perfect, but he played a good game. I'm proud of him. It's been a difficult road. He sees what that looks like. He needs to consistently play like that."
The Saints defense has played brilliantly the last two weeks, holding the Cowboys and Falcons to 13 poin
ts apiece. But their ‘rhythm’ offense has clearly been out of
sync for the past two weeks as Sean Payton’s squad has cashed back-2-back U
nders with room to spare. And even in the midst of an MVP caliber campaign, Drew Brees is still a MUCH better QB in the home dome: 9.7 yards per attempt vs. 7.1 ypa, a significant differential. Throw in a rainy forecast on Sunday and the case for the Under is perfectly clear. Take the Saints – Bucs UNDER.
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BRYAN LEONARD
Event: (125) Cincinnati Bengals at (126) Los Angeles Chargers
Sport/League: NFL
Date/Time: December 9, 2018 4PM EST
Play: Cincinnati Bengals 14.5 (-108)
125 Cincinnati at San Diego
Sometimes you just have to hold your nose and head to the counter. That's what we are doing here with the Bengals who have been dumped into the tanking file with the likes of the dregs of the league. Cincinnati is playing with a back-up quarterback and its best receiver is hurt once again.
That said, this is a horrendous scheduling situation for the Chargers. Off a tremendous come from behind victory on national television against the Steelers, with a Thursday Night Football game at Kansas City on deck. After that contestLos Angeles finishes the season against two more fringe playoff teams in the Ravens and Broncos. San Diego has already shown it's not a team to lay big numbers with as Anthony Lynn is very conservative with the lead.
PLAY CINCINNATI
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BRODY VAUGHN
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Patriots vs. Dolphins
Dolphins+8
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BOBBY CONN
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Ravens vs. Chiefs
1* Free Play on Ravens +6½ -105
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ROB VINCILETTI
NFL | Dec 09, 2018
Ravens vs. Chiefs
Ravens+7 -120
The NFL comp play is on Baltimore plus the points at 1:00 eastern. The Ravens have covered 9 straight after getting defensive touchdown in their last game and KC has failed to cover 12 of 13 at home if they scored 34 or more and allowed 10 or more as a favorite last week. The Ravens are 5-0 ats after rushing for 150+ yards. In game splayed in week 3 or later we are playing against winning teams in non divisional grass games that were road favorites last week and are playing a team that averages 7 or more rushing first downs per game. These teams have failed to cover 23 of 24 times and this plays against the Chiefs. The Ravens have shown they can move the ball with Lamar Jackson at the helm and they should give KC a big game here. Play on Baltimore.
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Mike Wynn
Free Play: New England/Miami Under 48½ Points
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Totals4U
Early Sunday's Free Selection: Pittsburgh Steelers/Oakland Raiders under 51 1/2
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Atlantic Sports
Early Sunday's Free Selection from Atlantic Sports: St Louis Blues - 190
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Platinum Plays
Free Pick: the NY Jets/Buffalo Game OVER 37½ Points
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Golden Dragon
FREE WINNER for Sunday
Kansas City -6'
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Hawkeye Sports
Early Sunday's Free Pick: Ball State Cardinals - 6 1/2
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Huddle Up Sports
Free Play: New England/Miami over 48'
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High Stakes Syndicate
Free Selection for Early Sunday: Arizona Wildcats + 1 1/2
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Razor Sharp
YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR SUNDAY: CAROLINA/CLEVELAND UNDER the total of 47½
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Nevada Sharpshooter
Your free winner for Sunday: Take ATLANTA +4½ over Green Bay
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Vegas Steam Line
Your free winner for Sunday: Take DETROIT/ARIZONA UNDER the total of 40½
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CAPPERS ACCESS
Ravens
Redskins
Cowboys
Rams
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Ray Chadwick
Comp play winner for Sunday goes out on the surging Baltimore Ravens to keep things close at Arrowhead Stadium when they face the 10-2 Kansas City Chiefs.
KC was able to get past hapless Oakland last week, but once again the impost was a bit too much for Andy Reid's team to handle. After covering their first 7 games of the season, the Chiefs are on a 1-3-1 point spread slide as they get set to host this game and they likely have one eye on their division-rivals, the L.A. Chargers who will make a Thursday night visit this upcoming week.
Oh yeah, and then there is the fact that there is a rather large void in their offense with the absence of Kareem Hunt that is bound to start to take its toll the later we go in this season.
As for Baltimore, they have found a little something-something with Lamar Jackson starting for the injured Joe Flacco, as the former Heisman Trophy Winner has gone 3-0 since the Ravens bye-week, defeating Cincinnati, Oakland and last week at Atlanta. OK, none of those 3 will be confused with today's 10-2 team, but we don't need the Ravens to win this game, we just need them to cover it, and getting near a full score looks good to me.
Don't look now, but with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a bit of a late-season tailspin, Baltimore is now within a half-game of first place, and they come into Arrowhead averaging 24.8 points per game, while allowing a NFL best, 17.8 points per game to be scored against them.
Baltimore went 3-1-1 last season as the road underdog, and they are 2-0 in that role this season, winning outright last weekend in Atlanta, and winning outright at Pittsburgh back in Week Four.
Kansas City dodges the bullet and wins this game, but I am taking the points as I see this one being closer than expected.
Baltimore plus the points today.
2* BALTIMORE
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Tommy Brunson
In a game that looked tantalizing back when the schedule was released, let's back disappointing Atlanta plus the points to cover against disappointing Green Bay.
It's hard to decide which team has been more of a letdown, as the Falcons looked like they were turning the season around when they reached 4-4 back on November 4th, but 4 straight up and against the spread losses have sunk their season. On the other hand, Green Bay may be worse, as last week's outright loss at home to an Arizona team they were favored by two touchdowns in helped sent Mike McCarthy home early for the holidays. The Packers have dropped 3 straight, and 5 of their last 6 now overall. Green Bay is also just 2-5 this season when installed as the favorite.
It is now former Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin's team for the remainder of the season, and I just don't want any parts of laying anything over a field goal with the disinterested Pack.
True, Atlanta was held to their worst offensive output since way back in 1999, when they amassed just 131 yards in their loss to Baltimore, but that will only serve to motivate Matt Ryan to be better this Sunday against a team that he has had recent success against.
The Falcons have won the last 3 series meetings straight up, and they are also 4-1 against the spread the last 5 times the teams have played one another.
In a battle of 2 demoralized teams, taking over a field goal is the wise move.
Play the Falcons.
3* ATLANTA
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Gus Augustine
When they met the first time this season, New England walloped the then 3-0 Miami Dolphins, 38-7 in Foxborough to end the month of September. That is par for the course when these division-rivals in Massachusetts, but when the Patriots go on the road and have to play in the Sunshine State, things have been decidedly different, as Hard Rock Stadium has become a bit of a "house of horrors" for Bill Belichick's team.
New England has lost outright in 4 of their last 5 visits to Miami, and with a chance to wrap up the overall # 1 seed in the AFC 3 years ago, the Pats laid a 10-20 egg as the -10 point road favorites! The line today is a little smaller, and an outright win by Miami would be a bit of a stunner, but do keep in mind that all 3 of the Patriots losses this season have come on the road, as they have been shutdown in losses at Jacksonville, Detroit and Tennessee already this season.
Ryan Tannehill is back, and Miami was able to end their 2 game slide with a home win and cover over Buffalo just last Sunday. The Dolphins have won and covered 2 of 3 this year as the home underdog, and they are now 7-4-1 against the spread when listed as the home dog their last 12 in that role.
New England has a big game on-deck for next week at Pittsburgh, so perhaps they are just a little less focused than normal today and leave some room inside of the back-door for Miami to slip in and steal the ATS today as the home dog.
'Fins plus the points the call.
1* MIAMI
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Jack Brayman
My free play for Sunday is on the Chicago Bears plus the money against the Los Angeles Rams in the late game. And as I will always do with underdogs catching anywhere between +2.5 and +4, I want you buying the half point up.
Los Angeles makes a tough trip into Chicago, where the weather will be frigid at night, and where the Bears will be hungry to bounce back after a wild overtime loss at the New York Giants last week. Prior to that, the Bears had won five in a row, so it's not as if this team has lost its luster.
The Rams, on the other hand, are in after clinching their second straight division championship and becoming the first team to secure a playoff spot with last week's 30-16 victory at Detroit. If there is any team that is ripe for a letdown, it's the Rams, who do need a win to clinch a first-round playoff bye, but have several weeks to do so.
Chicago, which has covered five of six and 16 of its last 21 at home, is the team in a must-win situation. And with Mitchell Trubisky expected to return after missing the past two games because of a right shoulder injury, the Bears' offense will get back on track.
And countering the Rams' second-ranked offense will be the league's fourth-ranked defense that is second in the league at stopping the run and 11th at thwarting the pass. Linebacker Khalil Mack has nine sacks in 10 games, and I expect him to apply endless pressure on quarterback Jared Goff, who ranks fourth in the NFL with 3,754 yards passing, and sixth with 27 touchdowns.
The Bears cover this one as they aim for the outright win.
5* CHICAGO
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Scott Delaney
COMPLIMENTARY WINNER
For my free winner in the NFL on Sunday, I'm laying the double digits with the Los Angeles Chargers at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.
It would be real easy to assume the Bolts look past this game and on to next week's AFC West showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs, but after what I saw last week, I don't think they're looking past anybody.
The Chargers roll into this home battle after engineering a 16-point comeback victory at Pittsburgh. And don't forget about when a Denver team that had lost five of six rallied from a 12-point deficit on Nov. 18 to defeat these Chargers, 23-22.
Los Angeles will be focused every single week leading into the playoffs. The Chargers are on the brink of clinching, and catch the Bengals in a vulnerable state at this point. Cincinnati has been dreadful after winning four of its first five this season, and is almost certain to sit this postseason out.
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has thrown two or more touchdown passes in every game this season and might have his best game against... His main target will be Keenan Allen, who has hauled in a touchdown pass in four straight games.
With Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson shouldering the burden while Melvin Gordon is shelved, they take a crack at Cincinnati's defense, which has allowed more than 200 yards in three of the past four games, and is ranked last against the run.
The Chargers can take advantage of a Bengals team that has failed to cover six of seven after being ravaged by injuries on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Andy Dalton, wide receiver A.J. Green, tight end Tyler Eifert, defensive end Carl Lawson and linebacker Preston Brown are a sampling of 14 players on the injured reserve list.
In For Dalton, it wasn't the best first-start for Jeff Driskel. He was sacked four times, threw an interception and lost a fumble in a 24-10 loss to the Broncos. He's likely improved and will be a bit more confident, but the Chargers have the resources to make life hard on him.
This won't be close, as San Diego rolls to the easy win and cover.
1* CHARGERS
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Marc Lawrence Incredible Stat of the Day:
NFL road favorites of -10 or more points (Pittsburgh Steelers) have gone 2-16 UNDER when the Over/Under line is less than 54 points.
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