The Baltimore Ravens (-3) are favorites as they prepare to battle the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs. Kickoff for this critical game is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET and CBS will broadcast the action.
Betting Preview: Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers
In this Sunday AFC game, Baltimore is projected as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 3 points. The Chargers are also receiving +120 moneyline odds while the Ravens are -140. There will likely be some good in-game betting possibilities for this showdown, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 41 points.
Betting odds have shifted some from where they were first posted. The opening line was -3 and the game’s over/under was initially placed at 41.5.
Each of these teams has been profitable this year as the Chargers have recorded 4.7 units while the Ravens are up 3.3 units.
The Chargers are 12-4 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Ravens are 10-6 SU.
The Chargers are coming off a resounding 23-9 victory over Denver in Week 17. Philip Rivers completed 14 passes for just 176 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Melvin Gordon III (42 yards on 10 rushes) and Austin Ekeler (58 yards on eight carries, one TD) led the running attack while Mike Williams (five receptions, 65 yards, one TD) and Keenan Allen (four catches, 64 yards) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Baltimore is coming off of a 26-24 win over Cleveland last week. Lamar Jackson completed 14-of-24 passes for 179 yards. Jackson (90 rushing yards on 20 attempts, two TDs) and Kenneth Dixon (117 yards on 12 carries) handled the running game as Mark Andrews (four receptions, 54 yards) and Chris Moore (two catches, 19 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Los Angeles has run the ball on 43.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Baltimore has a rush percentage of 49.6 percent. The Chargers have rushed for 117.1 yards per game and have 16 scores on the ground this year. The Ravens are totaling 152.6 rushing yards per game and have 19 total rush TDs.
The Bolts offense has averaged 269.8 yards through the air overall and has 32 passing scores so far. The Ravens have recorded 231.8 pass yards per game and have 18 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Los Angeles has allowed 105.8 rush yards and 242.9 pass yards per game. The Baltimore defense has given up 228.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 82.9 yards per game to opposing runners. The Ravens are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.23 to opposing QBs, while the Chargers have given up a 6.01 ANY/A.
Jackson has completed 87-of-148 passes for 997 yards, five TDs and three INTs for Baltimore. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 5.55 for the year and 7.63 over his last two games. In the other huddle, Rivers has amassed 4,127 passing yards on the year. He’s connected on 324-of-471 attempts with 32 passing touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. Rivers has an 8.31 ANY/A for the year, though that number sits at 2.51 over the past two outings.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens Free NFL Pick
SU Winner: Chargers, ATS Winner: Chargers, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Baltimore defense has tallied 43 sacks on the year while Los Angeles has 38.
- Baltimore has lost 11 fumbles in 2018 while the Los Angeles offense has lost seven.
- The Chargers offense has created 10 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Ravens have put up six such plays.
- The Los Angeles defense has allowed nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Baltimore has given up six such plays.
- The Los Angeles offense has created 16 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Baltimore has created 14 such runs.
- The Chargers defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Ravens have given up six such runs.
- The Over/Under for Baltimore’s last matchup going into it was 40.5. The over cashed in the 26-24 victory over Cleveland.
- In its last three matchups, Baltimore is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three games, Los Angeles is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Los Angeles has won six of its last seven games SU, with a 12-point defeat to Baltimore on December 22nd representing the only loss over that stretch.
- Baltimore has won seven of its last eight games SU, with a -3-point defeat to Kansas City on December 9th accounting for its lone loss over that stretch.
- The Over/Under for Los Angeles’ last game was set at 43. The under cashed in the team’s 23-9 win over Denver.
- Los Angeles has rushed for 4.1 yards per attempt across its last three games and 3.6 over its last two.
- Baltimore has averaged 5.3 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.5 over its past two.
