Ravens-Chargers Betting Odds, Tips & Picks AFC Wild Card 2019

Bill Williamson

January 3rd, 2019

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Quick Tips

• Bet Ravens (-3) over Chargers with 888Sport.
• Bet Chargres-Ravens under 41.5 with Karamba.
• Bet Chargers to win 1st half at +138 with Betfair.

The Los Angeles Chargers are not your typical No. 5 seed. They’re a 12-4 powerhouse that has lost just twice since Week 3. They’re a bounced ball away from being the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. But fellow AFC West power Kansas City earned that advantage via a tiebreaker.

The Chargers are a strong playoff team that plays well on both sides of the ball. This team has been rolling. Of course, one of its few stumbles was a home loss in a Week 16 to the Baltimore Ravens, who win the AFC North after a furious finish to the season. The Ravens totally stifled the Chargers, 22-10 in that game.

The Ravens have won six of seven games since rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson took over for then-injured Joe Flacco. Flacco is now healthy. But the Ravens are Jackson’s team. The uniqueness of the rookie quarterback and the top defense in the NFL makes the Ravens a dangerous postseason team and one fans of NFL betting should pay attention to in their Wild Card weekend betting.

Chargers vs. Ravens Best Bets

Ravens (-3) over Chargers

This is a really tight game. Basically, NFL bookmakers are saying these two teams are even. Now, in a game that 14 days prior to this playoff game, the two teams were not even. Baltimore was the better team – and it was on the road. So, the smart money may be on Baltimore winning again.

The Chargers will be healthy, though. Standout running abck Melvin Gordon proclaimed himself healthy earlier this week. Also, there is a strong chance the Chargers will get standout tight end Hunter Henry back. It would be the first game he’s played all season. He tore his ACL in May and had a speedy recovery.

It is unknown how effective Henry would be in his first game. But he does lengthen this potent offense. Surely Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers will try to get Henry involved early against the Ravens. Rivers and company couldn’t get anything going against the Ravens last time.

I think the fact that Baltimore is so confident and its defense so strong, I see the Ravens winning again. Take the Ravens at -3 with 888Sport.

Under 41.5

The total is actually a little higher than I thought it would be. These are two low-score game teams. Look at their Dec. 22 game. It totaled 32 points. I don’t see that drastically changing. The weather Sunday afternoon at Baltimore is supposed to be perfect, at 55 degrees and clear skies. The weather conditions shouldn’t affect the game much.

Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson said after the Ravens clinched the division that the Chargers defense was the fastest he had faced all season. With his speed being such an important part of Jackson’s game, that’s interesting insight from him.

The Ravens know points will be difficult to come by. Of course, it will be tough for the Chargers to score as well against the elite Baltimore defense. Other than the Baltimore game, the Chargers’ lowest point output was 20, which they hit twice.

The last two Chargers’ games, against the Ravens and at Denver, totaled 64 points. I see a similar game, point wise, as the Week 16 matchup. Bet the under with Karamba.

First-Half Winner (Chargers)

I do believe this will be a competitive game. The Chargers are an elite team and are fully capable of winning. I think it will be decided in the fourth quarter. So, this is a very good price at +138 with Betfair for the Chargers leading at the half.

It is a worthwhile bet in a game that is really a toss-up.