Cincinnati Bengals Vs Los Angeles Chargers: NFL Predictions, Odds & Best Bets

Have nо fear, Sunday Night Football іs back іn the City оf Angels tonight as the Los Angeles Chargers host the Cincinnati Bengals for this week’s showdown оn NBC. The Bengals come into this matchup off a mini bye week, having lost tо Baltimore by 1 оn Thursday Night last week. The Chargers are cruising іn the other direction, winning three straight games and scoring 26 points іn every single contest. What will tonight’s matchup bring us?

Cincinnati is one of the highest scoring offenses in the league, putting up 27 points per game ranking 6th in the NFL. That number drops about a point on the road, but has been up to over 30 over the past three weeks, despite the Bengals dropping 2 of their L3. However they play the best scoring defense in the league. Los Angeles ranks 1st in the NFL in scoring defense, giving up less than 14 points per contest. That number is down to 11 over the past three weeks, and their only home loss this season was to Kansas City.

In that game, the Chargers managed just 10 points in the 1st quarter, and couldn’t find the end zone after that, losing the game 17-10. Now the Chiefs defense is also Top 5 in scoring, and they get even better on the road. The Bengals defense is not the same. Cincinnati ranks 26th in the league, giving up over 26 points per game this season, with that number climbing to over 32 over the past few weeks.

Will scoring be enough for the Bengals to win this game? Or will the Chargers defense come to play and shut down Cincy?

Cincinnati Bengals Vs Los Angeles Chargers: Burrow Vs Herbert On SNF

Spread

Bengals +1 (-105)
Chargers -1 (-115)

Money Line

Bengals +103
Chargers -123

Total

Over 48 (-115)
Under 48 (-105)

Can Burrow, Bengals Take Down Chargers In LA?

Los Angeles is absolutely rolling. They’ve won three straight and 4 of their L5 since the bye week. After suffering two early losses to two very good defenses, the Chargers settled in and won the games they needed to. Now is a chance for them to steal one at home from the Bengals who desperately need a win.

Cincinnati is drowning. They are 4-6 on the season but are 3-2 on the road, losing to Baltimore and Kansas City by 1 point each time. The Bengals have won the games they are supposed to, beating the Panthers, Giants and Browns all on the road, while also taking down the Raiders at home. Losing to New England at home isn’t good, but it was Week 1. Losing by 20 to the Eagles at home also isn’t good, we’ll call it a fluke. Other than that, the Bengals have been in every single game they’ve played. They could easily be sitting at 7-3 this year, but alas, they are in 3rd in the AFC North and currently out of a Wild Card spot.

But looking ahead, the Bengals could easily win out, turn the season around and make the playoffs. That all starts with a win tonight.

As for the Chargers, they are not a team I would want to face right now, especially at home. They are totally healthy, the offense is scoring, the defense is quietly one of the best units in the NFL. For the life of me, I cannot figure out who is going to walk away with a win in this game, and part of me really thinks we see some points.

Cincinnati Bengals Vs Los Angeles Chargers Best Bets

Bengals vs Chargers Prediction: Chargers Win, Over 48

Best Bet: Chargers TT Over 23.5 (-140) Bovada

Regardless of whether or not the Chargers win tonight, I think they score plenty. The offense has been clicking, especially against inferior defenses, so I see them having no problem putting points on the board tonight. The Chargers have cleared this number in three straight games and have put up 20+ in 6/9 contests this season. The Bengals have allowed 24+ points in 7 of their 10 games, including 30+ on four separate occasions. But let’s look specifically at the Chargers opponents.

Chargers Opponents’ Scoring Defense Rankings

LV: 30th
CAR: 32nd
PIT: 2nd
KC: 5th
DEN: 4th
AZ: 12th
NO: 24th
CLE: 21st
TEN: 29th

Against teams bottom 10 defenses, the Chargers average 25.6 points per game, and they face the 26th ranked scoring defense tonight іn Cincinnati. While the Chargers’ offense might not have the “wow factor” every week, they consistently put points up оn the board, especially against bad defenses. Tonight іs nо different, Herbert and Harbaugh are going tо find ways tо score.