SNF – Ravens vs Chargers Week 15 Gambling Preview
The Baltimore Ravens have been in a battle for the AFC North all season. Now, it will come down to three games and their ability to get the job done on the road.
Venue/Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
Time/Date: 8:20 PM ET – Sunday December 18, 2011
NFL Odds from Bodog
Money Line: Ravens -140
Spread (ATS): Ravens -2.5
Over/Under: 44
While the Ravens are perfect at M&T Bank Stadium this year, they have split their games away from home, where they will play two of their final three beginning against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday Night Football this Sunday.
Despite that the Chargers lost six straight games from late October through the end of November, consecutive wins has kept their slim hopes for a division title alive in the AFC West. Just two games back of the Denver Broncos with three to play, Phillip Rivers and company have borrowed some faith and repeatedly told anyone who would listen that they will fight until it is over. The fact that the Chargers have put up at least 37 points in consecutive games, and Rivers is playing his best ball of the season, only continues a trend that we have seen in recent years of San Diego emerging as one of best teams in the NFL come December.
That will make the return of Ravens’ linebacker Ray Lewis that much more important this weekend, after the veteran missed the past four games with a toe injury. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Lewis will undoubtedly have his teammates fired up to get after Rivers and disrupt the passing game, while making sure to close the gaps up front and force San Diego to rely on that passing game alone. One of the biggest problems for Baltimore this season has been the emotional letdown they have suffered against inferior teams after big wins, as they have followed up wins over the Steelers (twice) and Texans with losses to the Titans, Jaguars, and Seahawks. That won’t happen this week against one of the hottest teams in the NFL, especially once Lewis starts popping people in the mouth.
The Ravens have reserved their best performances for their biggest games all year, and it doesn’t get any bigger than this on SNF on the west coast as they look to keep pace with the Pittsburgh Steelers. At some point, Ray Rice and the offense is going to need to have a signature performance at put their stamp on the this season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they put up a ton of points against a Chargers’ defense that has a ton of holes.
NFL Betting Pick: Ravens
