Los Angeles at Cincinnati

The Chargers may be the best team in the NFL, but the record shows 8-6 and they are in trouble and need help to get into the playoffs. This will be the Super Bowl for the Bengals as their playoff hopes went up in smoke very early in a disappointing season. One thing you can say for sure is that despite losing 10 straight games, they’re still fighting. They even gave Pittsburgh everything they could handle on the road two weeks ago down 13-7 into the fourth quarter. They did not let the Steelers make it into the endzone with an offensive TD the entire game. They then came back last week to beat the Browns at home, and the Chargers will get the motor running once again. Marvin Lewis said this week that jobs are on the line so I expect the Bengals to play hard. San Diego has the worst special teams, and their turnovers have killed them, which will probably be good for some Cincinnati points here. The Chargers are 0-4 ATS in their last four on the road as a favorite of 3.5-10. The Chargers have always been a homer team and this year is no difference. While they are 6-2 ATS at home, outscoring opponents by 9 points per game, they are just 2-4 SU and ATS on the road, getting matched point for point. The Bengals are barking loud at 6-2 ATS in their last eight as a home dog and I like them plus the points. I also like the OVER in this game. San Diego has gone OVER to the tune of 15-6-2 in their last 23 as road chalk. When facing bad defensive teams on the road (htose allowing 5.7+ yards per play), the Chargers are 14-4 to the OVER. Not one of the last eight meetings between these clubs has fallen shy of the total. I’m taking Cincinnati and the OVER.