Bengals vs. Chargers Total Prediction
Will the Cincinnati Bengals continue their defensive struggles when they go on the road to face the surging Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at 4:05PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
125 Cincinnati Bengals at 126 Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, December 9, 2018
4:05PM ET – ROKiT Field at StubHub Center
TV: CBS
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Chargers are the heavy favorite in this game, as they are getting odds of -14 points against the Bengals. The over/under total for the game is listed at 47.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 76 percent going on the Chargers at home.
Bengals beat up
The Bengals are coming off a 24-10 loss at home to the Broncos last week, their fourth consecutive loss on the season. Cincy is now 5-7 overall, 5-7 against the spread and 8-4 with the over. Cincy has hit the over in four of its last five games.
Cincinnati is beat up right now and it’s impacting their offensive numbers. They average just 23.8 points and 331.5 yards per game this season. Both Andy Dalton (thumb) and A.J. Green (toe) have been put on season-ending IR and running back Joe Mixon is questionable for Sunday’s game with a foot injury. Jeff Driskel gets the start under center on Sunday. He has thrown for 475 yards and two touchdowns with one interception this season. Tyler Boyd is the team’s leading receiver with 69 catches for 938 yards and six touchdowns. The Bengals have the league’s worst defense this year, allowing 30.9 points and 433.1 yards per game.
Chargers earn big road win
The Chargers are coming off their biggest win of the season, 33-30 at Pittsburgh last week, overcoming a 16-point deficit. Los Angeles is 9-3 on the season, 7-5 against the spread and 7-5 with the over. The Chargers have hit the over in their last two games.
Los Angeles has been very steady all year on offense, averaging 28.3 points and 399.4 yards per game. Philip Rivers is an MVP candidate as he has thrown for 3,418 yards with 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Keenan Allen is his top receiver with 83 catches for 996 yards and five touchdowns. Melvin Gordon is the team’s leading rusher with 802 yards and nine touchdowns, but he is expected to miss Sunday’s game with a knee injury. Defensively, Los Angeles is holding opponents to 20.8 points and 334.9 yards per game.
NFL Betting Trends
Cincinnati
The Bengals have hit the over in five of their last six road games and in five of their last seven games after a loss.
Los Angeles
The Chargers have hit the under in 14 of their last 19 conference games and in 19 of their last 26 games in December.
Prediction:
The Bengals are a disaster right now. They have given up at least 24 points in five straight games and I would expect a bigger number than that against the Chargers. Los Angeles is rolling on offense right now and Rivers should be able to carve up this Cincy defense that has nothing to play for. The Chargers are playing okay on defense and should limit the Bengals to a degree, but I expect the Bengals to find enough points late in the game to help hit the over.
NFL Prediction: Bengals/Chargers Over 47.5