December 18, 2018
The fourth and last Saturday game of the 2018 NFL regular season – there will be Saturday games the first two rounds of the playoffs – is chock full of playoff ramifications as the Baltimore Ravens visit the Los Angeles Chargers. It’s the first prime-time game from the Chargers’ temporary home, the StubHub Center soccer stadium. So, let’s take a closer look at the Ravens vs Chargers odds.
This might be the final home game of the season for the Chargers, who have clinched at least a wild-card spot in the AFC and would have to play any games in the postseason on the road if they stay in that spot (see below). It’s possible that Los Angeles could visit Baltimore on Wild Card Weekend if the Ravens win the AFC North. They are battling Pittsburgh for that, with both the Ravens and Steelers also in the hunt for the second wild-card spot along with a few other teams.
Because the Ravens have only been in existence since 1996, they haven’t played a game in Los Angeles. These teams last played in 2015, a 29-26 Ravens victory in Baltimore.
The Ravens vs Chargers odds have Los Angeles as a 4.5-point favorites on this week’s NFL gambling odds. However, Baltimore will be our against the spread pick. The total is at 45 points.
This pick is based on “need.” The Ravens have to have this, while the Chargers know they are in the postseason regardless. In addition, there might be more Baltimore fans in attendance than Chargers fans. If you have seen any Chargers home games in that soccer stadium, it’s usually a majority rooting for the opposing team. Perhaps that’s why the Chargers are 2-5 ATS on the NFL gambling lines at home.
Baltimore is 4-1 since moving rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson into the starting lineup, and John Harbaugh has changed the offense around Jackson to the most run-heavy group in the NFL. Jackson is averaging over 85.0 yards rushing over that span. Meanwhile, fellow rookie Gus Edwards has come out of nowhere to be an effective tailback. He has three 100-yard games over the past five. This is now truly an old-school offense, and former starting QB Joe Flacco has probably played his last down for Baltimore unless Jackson gets hurt.
Los Angeles trailed by 14 points three different times Thursday night in Kansas City. Yet stunningly, they won 29-28 as Coach Anthony Lynn opted to go for the 2-point try and win following a last-second touchdown. It was good as Philip Rivers hit a wide-open Mike Williams because the Chiefs had a busted coverage. That win tied the Bolts for first in the AFC West with the Chiefs, but Kansas City still would win any tiebreaker. Los Angeles could win 13 games and still be a wild-card team. Amazing.
Chargers Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon missed a third straight game with a knee injury. But at least that was a game-time call, so he has a good shot of playing here. We’re not clear on top receiver Keenan Allen, who left Thursday’s game with a hip injury. Williams stepped up big time in Allen’s absence.
The Ravens vs Chargers odds saw the spread open as high as Chargers -5.5, while the total has been steady.