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Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read
Dec. 5, 2021
Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Week 13 NFL Picks & Predictions

Games Scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET

The Los Angeles Chargers (6-5) pay a visit to the Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) meet at Paul Brown Stadium in Week 13 on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on CBS.

Score Prediction

Bengals 34, Chargers 27

Best Bets

Bengals -3 (-110)BetMGM (Vegas)

Bengals -1.5 first-half (-110)BetMGM (Vegas)

Over 49.5 (-110)BetMGM (Vegas)

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Predictions

This game is a very important matchup in the AFC playoff picture right now, and it will have huge implications in determining seeding.

The Chargers are looking to wash the bad taste out of their mouths following a 28-13 setback on the road against the Denver Broncos. The Bolts have been a little up and down lately, with a little more down than up. L.A. is on a 2-4 SU/1-5 ATS skid since being curb-stomped in Baltimore back in Week 6. It's not terribly good news that the Chargers have dropped games to the Ravens, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos in recent weeks, all teams they are jockeying for playoff positioning against.

The Bengals would like to be the latest team to gain a tiebreaker advantage against the Chargers. Cincinnati is feeling good about itself after paddling the rival Pittsburgh Steelers 41-10 last week in The Jungle, easily covering a 3.5-point number. It's the second time Cincinnati has grabbed back-to-back covers this season, but they haven't had at least three consecutive covers since Oct. 18-Nov. 1, 2020 last season.

Speaking of last season, these teams met in the 'Nati in Week 1, with the Bolts coming away with a 16-13 win as 2.5-point favorites as the UNDER hit. But the starting QB that afternoon was Tyrod Taylor, not Justin Herbert.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds




Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Betting Resources

  • Matchup: AFC West vs. AFC North
  • Date: Sunday, December 5, 2021
  • Venue: Paul Brown Stadium
  • Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
  • TV-Time: CBS - 1:00 p.m. ET

Week 13 NFL Picks & Predictions

Games Scheduled for 4:00 p.m. through 8:20 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Chargers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 6-5
  • ATS: 5-6
  • O/U: 4-7
  • ATS - Home: 2-4
  • ATS - Away: 3-2

The Chargers head east of the Mississippi River for the fourth time this season. They won against the Washington Football Team in Week 1 by a 20-16 score, covering a 2.5-point number as the UNDER cashed. They were pounded in Baltimore, 34-6, as the UNDER, and they won at Philadelphia 27-24 in Week 9, covering as one-point favorites as the OVER hit. They're 2-1 SU/1-2 ATS so far this season against the AFC North Division, while the OVER is 2-1 in those three outings.

The Chargers enter this game with a 5-2 ATS mark across the past seven road outings, but they're just 1-5 ATS in the past six games overall, and 0-4 ATS in the previous four tries against AFC foes.

As far as the total is concerned, the UNDER is 4-1 in the past five road outings for the Chargers, while going 4-1 in the previous five as an underdog, too. The OVER has hit in seven of the past 10 for Los Angeles against teams with a winning record, while the OVER is 9-4 in its past 13 following a straight-up loss, too.

Cincinnati Bengals Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 7-4
  • ATS: 6-5
  • O/U: 5-6
  • ATS - Home: 2-3
  • ATS - Away: 4-2

The Bengals topped the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11 on the road, its first game against an AFC West foe this season. The Denver Broncos in Week 15 on the road, and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17 at home, still await.

Cincinnati defended its home turf well last time out against Pittsburgh, using a 31-3 first half blitzkrieg to run away with a 31-point victory of the rival Steelers. It was Cincinnati's first regular-season sweep of Pittsburgh since 2009, and QB Joe Burrow has won three straight against the black and gold.

The Bengals have posted a 4-2 ATS mark across the past six games overall, while the OVER is an impressive 4-1 in the previous five. The Bengals offense has rolled up 41, 32, 16, 31, 41 and 34 across the past six outings, too. For totals, the OVER is 6-1-1 in the past eight for Cincinnati as a home favorite, while going 8-3-1 in the past 12 overall as a favorite. The UNDER is 6-0 in the past six meetings in this series, however.


The Bengals have picked up six covers in the previous eight meetings with the Chargers, including Week 1 in Cincinnati last season. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Los Angeles Chargers

  • Record: 6-5
  • Division Standing: 2-1
  • Points Scored: 273
  • Points Allowed: 293
  • PS/G: 24.8
  • PA/G: 26.6
>

Inside the Stats - Cincinnati Bengals

  • Record: 7-4
  • Division Standing: 3-1
  • Points Scored: 309
  • Points Allowed: 226
  • PS/G: 28.1
  • PA/G: 20.5

Key Players to Watch

  • LAC: Austin Ekeler - RB (186 total touches, 1,077 total yards, 14 total TDs)
  • LAC: Justin Herbert - QB (289/438, 3,230 yards, 24 TD, 10 INT)
  • CIN: Joe Burrow - QB (235/339, 2,835 yards, 22 TD, 12 INT)
  • CIN: Joe Mixon - RB (208 rushes, 924 yards, 11 TD)

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Betting Conclusion

The Chargers are looking to get untracked against a very good Bengals team which continues to win in a variety of ways. Sometimes it is the pass game which is dominant, other times it is the run game. Cincinnati has been well balanced on offense, and the defense might be a bit overlooked. While they're just so-so with 348.3 total yards allowed, or 13th in the NFL, the Bengals rush D yields just 93.7 yards per game to rank fourth, and the scoring D allows just 20.5 PPG to check in sixth overall.

The Achilles' heel of the Chargers is going to be their undoing in this one. They simply cannot stop the run, ranking last in the NFL with 145.3 yards per game allowed. Mixon and the Bengals rush attack has to be licking their chops thinking about the possibilities. Herbert will still keep the visitors in it, but eventually the Bengals will pull away in the second half.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Betting Trends

  • The Chargers are 1-5 ATS in the past six games overall.
  • The Chargers are 5-2 ATS in the past seven road games.
  • The Bengals are 2-5 ATS in the past seven home games against teams with a winning road mark.
  • The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five road games for the Chargers.
  • The OVER is 7-3 in the past 10 vs. winning teams for the Chargers.
  • The OVER is 4-1 in the past five games overall for the Bengals.
  • The OVER is 8-3-1 in the past 12 as a favorite for the Bengals.
  • The Chargers are 2-6 ATS in the past eight vs. Bengals.
  • The UNDER is 6-0 in the past six meetings.

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