Will Playing 16 Away Games Help the Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card Weekend?
Apparently, powder blue just doesn't have the same mystique as silver-&-black.
Raiders owner Mark Davis is at least as much a playpen whore as the Chargers' Spanos family.
But while the Raiders somehow maintain their loyal followers, the Chargers may as well have kooties.
Announced crowds for their games at the 27,000-seat StubHub Center in Carson -- home of the LA Galaxy -- are legitimate fake news.
Who really cares when you're on the road?
And for the Chargers -- whose opponents' fans are the ones who pack the StubHub -- that's a season-long proposition. They're the ideal road dog.
Bovada has the line on their playoff game at Baltimore -2½ with the total at 42 and the moneyline set at Baltimore -140 and the Chargers at +120.
Why bet on the Los Angeles Chargers ...
It wasn't their best game, but dudes beat the Denver Broncos but -- despite a sterling 12-4 record -- missed out on winning the AFC West in Week 17 after the Kansas City Chiefs crushed the the Raiders.
Despite having nearly identical numbers through the air at home and on the road, the Chargers are significantly better running the football when they are on the actual road. They only average 4.1 yards per carry at home, compared to 5.3 yards per carry in away games.
Philip Rivers is one of the greatest quarterbacks to never play in the big game, but this year may change that.
His 2018 regular season was one of the best of his career, tying his career-high QB rating (105.5) while coming just under career highs in completion percentage, TDs and yards per attempt.
Why bet on Baltimore ...
While you can’t argue against the fact that rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson has led the Ravens to a 6-1 SU record in his seven starts, his statistics look less than impressive.
Dude has an 84.5 QB rating, which is lower than the likes of Matt Stafford, Nick Mullens, Eli Manning, Ryan Tannehill and Derek Carr.
What's unique about the Ravens is their dogged determination to run the ball über alles. Remember, Baltimore beat the Chargers, 22-10, on Sat 22 Dec, so there's little doubt they'll deviate from their strategy. They'll first want to see how Los Angeles adjusts to them the second time around.
Instant analysis ...
Baltimore only went 8-8 against the spread during the regular season. What's more, they were an awful 3-5 ATS in home games, and that doesn’t compare to the Chargers ATS record on the road.
Los Angeles is an incredible 7-1 against the spread in away games this season. The Chargers appear more comfortable on the road, and with their home-stadium situation, who can blame them?
Rivers should do enough to keep this one desperately close. Chargers get the nod to win against the spread.
ATS pick: Los Angeles Chargers +2½
Result: Los Angeles Chargers 23 Baltimore 17 ... Chargers cover
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Sportbet Columnist: Josh Bailey
Aspiring to become the Mark Twain of sportswriting, Josh has been labelled as the up-&-coming sportswriter of the year by absolutely nobody and the new heavy hitter in sports handicapping by his mother.