Sunday Night Football Picks: Baltimore Ravens vs LA Chargers

by Mike Allen - 11/22/2023

If you make it through both Thanksgiving and Black Friday with a few extra bills in your pocket, we have an exciting and potentially profitable AFC matchup. Unfortunately, it's not a divisional matchup like we have for every game on Thursday and Friday.

That's alright, though. Leaders of the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens, travel the width of the country to the City of Angels to play the Chargers. I am shocked that their head coach, Brandon Staley, still has a job.

He's from Ohio, which is generally a good sign for an NFL player or coach, but I think he is just in over his head in Los Angeles. This job isn't for everyone. We have seen Hall of Fame-level offensive or defensive coordinators rightfully get their shot to be a head coach.

Some guys just aren't leaders of men, at least at this level. The NFL, as you know, stands for "Not for long," and Staley's seat is scorching right now after a loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Chargers are talented, with a good quarterback. They have certainly been one of, if not the, biggest disappointments in the league this year.

I'm not sure if Staley's players hate him as much as the Las Vegas Raiders hated Josh McDaniels. I remember fading them early in the week with a prediction. That Tuesday, they fired him. I bought out of my position immediately.

I would think that the Chargers would really get up for this game, but if the situation is similar to Las Vegas, they can't wait for the guy to go.

For Baltimore, this has all the makings of a trap game.

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Ravens vs Chargers Betting Odds

Point Spread

Ravens: -3.5 (-110)

Chargers: +3.5 (-110)

This is where the betting line opened. I thought we might see this line pushed up to 4 or 4.5. It’s definitely not getting down to 2.5.

The LA Chargers are on their way to a 4-7 record with virtually no chance of making the postseason if they fail to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football.

The Ravens can't really afford to lose, either, as the Cleveland Browns are nibbling at their heels, sitting just a half of a game out of first place.

The Chargers may have comparable talent to the Ravens and a better pocket passer of the football, but we already hinted at the glaring difference between these two teams.

Coaching. John Harbaugh appears to be the more honest sibling and, thus, a more consistent winner. He seems to rely on being a great coach and not so much a cheater.

I know it’s a big week for you Michigan fans. We will see what happens.

Moneyline

Ravens: -180

Chargers: +150

I don't usually like the moneyline betting odds for NFL games. However, the Ravens are affordable at (-180) here. We, of course, hate that hook on the 3 points. You probably know this, but the key number of 3 is by far the most frequent margin of victory in the NFL.

Point Total

Over 47: -110

Under 47: -110

Ravens vs Chargers Betting Analysis

On paper, I have to be real. This is a mismatch. The Chargers haven't been able to stop a runny nose all year, ranking 29th in yards per play allowed, while the Baltimore Ravens defense is at the very top of the league in this statistic.

The Baltimore offense is a little banged up, though, after last week. That was all thanks to Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson. The known cheap-shot artist hurt Mark Andrews, Lamar Jackson, and Odell Beckham Jr. on tackles.

I'm sure somewhere out there, Greg Williams is smiling.

Ravens vs Chargers Betting Prediction

I do think there is something to this trap game situation for Baltimore. However, they are too good on defense, the Chargers are too bad on defense, and we know we have the better coach in Harbaugh.

Pick: Ravens Moneyline (-180)

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Sunday Night Football Picks: Baltimore Ravens vs LA Chargers

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