Ravens vs. Chargers Total Prediction
In a critical AFC matchup, the Baltimore Ravens travel to L.A. Saturday night to take on the Chargers at 8:20 p.m. ET. With the matchup sitting in the low-40s, is the under a safe play for bettors?
Game Snapshot
123 Baltimore Ravens at 124 Los Angeles Chargers
8:20 p.m. ET, Saturday, December 22
StubHub Center, Carson, California
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Chargers are 4-point favorites to beat the Ravens. The total, meanwhile, sits at 43.5 points. As of this writing, 61% of the public betting tickets are on the Chargers to cover the point spread.
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson completed 14-of-23 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown in Week 15 against the Bucs. Jackson did all of his damage on the ground, rushing for 95 yards on 18 carries. His touchdown was a jet sweep from five yards out. Jackson had multiple throws that should have been intercepted and was lucky to come away with just a botched-snap fumble. We have doubts on Jackson as a passer but his matchups and rushing ability have given him a safe weekly floor. Jackson will get his first real test against the Chargers in Week 16.
Los Angeles Chargers
Philip Rivers completed 26-of-38 passes for 313 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the Chargers’ 29-28, Week 15 win over the Chiefs. The Chargers went down 28-14 with 8:15 remaining but rallied to stun the Chiefs in a stadium that’s been their Waterloo. Rivers connected with Mike Williams with :04 remaining, and the Bolts went for two instead of kicking the extra point. Williams was then left all alone to catch the game-sealing conversion. Rivers’ night got off to a nightmarish start, as he tossed a ghastly pair of first half picks. Under constant duress, he took five sacks. The Chargers now head home to face the Ravens before traveling to Denver in Week 17. Both Kansas City and Los Angeles are 11-3, but the Chiefs currently hold the tiebreaker (division record).
NFL Betting Trends
Baltimore
The over is 8-2 in the Ravens’ last 10 road games versus a team with a winning home record.
Los Angeles
The under is 4-1 in the Chargers’ last five home games and is 15-6 in their last 21 conference matchups.
Prediction
This is a matchup of two top-10 defenses and with ow much the Ravens run the ball now with Jackson, the play Saturday night is the under. Baltimore is also making its third road trip in the last four weeks and with Melvin Gordon expected to return for the Chargers, perhaps they’ll lean on their running game as well. We could be looking at a wiped Ravens team in the second half but one that is still incapable of striking for big yards through the air.
NFL Week 16 Prediction: Ravens/Chargers under 43.5