The Baltimore Ravens are field-goal home favorites over the Los Angeles Chargers, say sport betting sites. That may sound counterintuitive at first. After all, the Bolts finished the regular season 12-4. Compared to the Ravens’ 10-6. But the best online sportsbooks know what they are doing. And they know that the bye week is not the only thing that split Baltimore’s season in two. The Black Birds went 4-5 in what appear to be Joe Flacco’s last days as starting QB.
Enter rookie Lamar Jackson. The Ravens won six of their last seven games to clinch the AFC North and a wild card spot. One of Baltimore’s latter-season victims were precisely the Chargers, who fell 10-22 to the Ravens in Week 16. Interestingly, just the week before the Chargers had managed to upset the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bolts are having a comeback season, but momentum can go a long way in football.
Betting LA Chargers
Were it not for Drew Brees and Pat Mahomes, starting QB Philip Rivers would be the best in his position this year. The Bolts are 5-1 ATS in their last six games in the postseason as road dogs. In contrast, the Ravens are 1-5 ATS in their last six at home, per sport betting sites. The Chargers have won seven road games in a row. And they have outscored opponents by eight points per game in their last five away from home. The Bolts are so good on the road, their only losing visit this season actually took place in Los Angeles.
Betting Baltimore
The Ravens are an entirely different team with Jackson under center. And make no mistake, the rookie has a bright future ahead of him. However, he remains a diamond in the rough. For instance, has fumbled the ball 12 times. And his passer rating is lower than those of Matt Stafford, Nick Mullens, Eli Manning, Ryan Tannehill and Derek Carr. There are a lot of low cards in that hand. And finally, rookie QBs are 1-5 SU and 2-4 ATS in the postseason since 2012.
Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens – Wild Card Playoffs Betting
- Date: January 6, 2019
- Time: 1:05 p.m. EST
- Venue: M&T Bank Stadium
Odds from GTBets.eu:
Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | +3 (-120) | 41½ (-110) | +130 | ![]() |
Ravens | -3 (EV) | 41½ (-110) | -150 | |
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Betting Trends
- Chargers are 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 road games
- Chargers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games on fieldturf
- Chargers are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 road games vs. a team with a winning home record
- Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game
- Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game
- Ravens are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game
Our Game Prediction: The Ravens prevailed over the Chargers a couple of weeks ago. That’s a double-edged sword. On the one hand, Baltimore could enter Sunday a little too self-confident. On the other, the Chargers may have learned their lesson and avoid the mistakes that cost them the previous matchup. There’s also the possibility that the Ravens’ win over the Bolts was a fluke. After all, the Chargers have been the better, more consistent team throughout the season. And home advantage is rendered moot by the Chargers’ away record. According to sport betting sites, the Bolts are 7-1 SU and ATS in their last eight on the road. Finally, Rivers is playing arguably the best football of his career and might just teach Jackson a thing or two.