The Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers are set to square off on the grass of StubHub Center. This late afternoon matchup will begin at 4:05 p.m. ET and spectators can tune in to the action on CBS.
Betting Preview: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Cincinnati is a big road underdog in this AFC matchup and is currently getting 14 points. The Bengals are also receiving +550 moneyline odds while the Chargers are -925. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 48 points. It appears that this game might have some live betting opportunities.
The line opened at -15. The game’s O/U hasn’t changed since it opened at 48.
The Bengals have lost 2.1 units so far and are 5-7 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 8-4.
The Chargers have gained 3.9 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 7-5 ATS and have an O/U record of 7-5.
The Bengals have gone a lousy 5-7 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Chargers are 9-3 SU.
Los Angeles enters this matchup on a four-game losing streak while Cincinnati has come out on top in its last two in a row. The Bengals are hoping to bounce back after a 24-10 defeat to Denver in Week 13 where Jeff Driskel completed 25-of-37 passes for 236 yards, as well as one TD and an interception. Joe Mixon (82 yards on 12 rush attempts) spearheaded the running attack in the loss while Bernard (six receptions, 32 yards) and Tyler Boyd (six catches, 97 yards) handled the receiving duties.
The Los Angeles Bolts are coming off of a 33-30 win over Pittsburgh last week. The team’s defensive secondary allowed the Steelers to air it out for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Antonio Brown torched the defense, recording 154 yards on 10 catches for Pittsburgh. For Los Angeles, Philip Rivers completed 26-of-36 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Austin Ekeler (21 yards on 13 rush attempts) and Justin Jackson (63 yards on eight carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground game in the win as Keenan Allen (14 receptions, 148 yards, one TD) and Ekeler (five catches, 22 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Cincinnati has run the ball on 35.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Los Angeles has a rush percentage of 44.2 percent. The Bengals have produced 95.0 rush yards/game and have 10 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Bolts are logging 125.2 rushing yards per game and have 11 total rush TDs.
It seems like the Bolts ought to own an edge when it comes to RB efficiency, since their backfield has produced 4.9 yards per carry while their defense has allowed a YPC of 4.4 to opponents. The Bengals have tallied 4.7 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.9 to opponents.
The Bengals offensive scheme has tallied 253.4 yards per game in the air overall and has 23 passing TDs so far. The Bolts have produced 285.5 pass yards per contest and have 28 total pass scores.
Defensively, Cincinnati has allowed 153.3 rush yards and 289.2 pass yards per game. The Los Angeles defense has allowed 248.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 104.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bolts are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.81 to opponents, while the Bengals have given up a 7.35 ANY/A.
Offensively, Driskel has amassed 320 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has connected on 31-of-44 attempts with one scores through the air and one interception. He has a 5.40 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 4.76 over the last two games.
In the host locker room, Philip Rivers has completed 237-of-351 passes for 3,159 yards, 25 TDs and six INTs. Rivers’ ANY/A sits at 8.92 for the season and 8.76 across his past two games.
Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Chargers Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Chargers, ATS Winner: Chargers, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- As a team, Cincinnati has produced 4.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.6 over its last two.
- Los Angeles has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three games and 5.1 over its last two.
- Both teams have lost four fumbles this year.
- Cincinnati has lost seven of its last eight games SU, with a three-point win over Tampa Bay on October 28th accounting for the only victory over that stretch.
- Los Angeles has won nine of its last 10 games SU, with a -1-point loss to Denver on November 18th accounting for the only defeat over that span.
- The Bengals offense has produced one pass play of 40 or more yards, while the Chargers have put up 10 such plays.
- The Cincinnati defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Los Angeles has given up seven such plays.
- The Cincinnati offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Los Angeles has created 15 such runs.
- The Bengals defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Chargers have given up seven such runs.
- The Los Angeles D has tallied 29 sacks on the year while Cincinnati has 26.
