NFL Odds – Can Cincinnati Officially Put an End to San Diego’s Playoff Aspiration?

Two of the preseason favorites to advance to the playoffs in the AFC meet on Sunday and the NFL Betting Odds are that neither team will advance past January. The San Diego Chargers have a chance but will need a lot of help to advance while the Cincinnati Bengals just need help in order to be competitive.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (8-6) vs. CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-11)

Sunday, December 26, 4:05 PM ET

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Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Broadcast: CBS

NFL Odds:

San Diego: -7 ½ (-110)

Cincinnati: +7 ½ (-110)

Moneyline: San Diego -350: Cincinnati +290

Total: 44 points

The San Diego Chargers have defied the NFL Odds in the past few seasons and used incredible December comebacks to win four straight AFC West division crowns. This season has been different however – injuries and average play at times have left them scrambling and on the outside looking in on the AFC playoff picture.

Don’t blame the offense or the defense for that matter for San Diego’s unimpressive 8-6 record. They have the number two offense and the number one overall defense in the NFL. A seemingly easy game against the banged up Bengals may be too little too late for Norv Turner and the Chargers.

Philip Rivers has the Chargers passing game ranked 2nd in the NFL (284.79 yards per game). He has been NFL Odds money in the bank in December over the past few seasons, guiding San Diego to a 20-1 December record, including 10-0 on the road in the month. Antonio Gates is out but the return of Vincent Jackson to prominence is a great sign for the Chargers ahead of Sunday’s game.

Mike Tolbert and a finally healthy Ryan Matthews guide the 14th ranked running game (113.00 yards per game) into Cincinnati. They have been good, not great, and will have a good chance to control the game against the injury depleted Bengals.

The San Diego defense speaks for itself. They are #1 against the pass (170.36 yards per game) and #2 versus the run (89.43 yards per game). Expect them to give the struggling Cincinnati offense fits and create a few turnovers along the way.

The Cincinnati Bengals could be the worst NFL Odds team in the league at present, especially since playmaker Terrell Owens is gone for the year and Chad Ochocino extremely limited with his own injuries. The Bengals are banged up and are just hoping to be competitive on Sunday afternoon.

Cincinnati has the 13th ranked passing game (228.07 yards per game) and the 27th ranked rushing offense (95.00 yards per game). With Owens out and with Ochocinco highly questionable to play a full game on Sunday, expect the Bengals to struggle mightily throwing the ball.

Cedric Benson finally woke up last week rushing for 150 yards and a score against the Cleveland Browns. Too bad that it finally happened in Week 15! Expect a heavy dose of Benson on Sunday – he is all that the Bengals have on offense!

Cincinnati’s defense is injured, both figuratively and physically. The 17th ranked pass defense (222.79 yards per game) and the 22nd ranked run defense (12.07 yards per game) will have its hands full as they field a bunch of backups against the league’s second best offense.

NFL Odds Outlook:

The San Diego Chargers are 6-1 SU in their last seven games. They are 2-4 SU and ATS in their last six games on the road although they are 8-4 SU in their last 12 away from home. The Chargers are 5-1 SU in their last six games against the Bengals and are 5-2 SU in their last seven trips to Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati Bengals are 1-10 SU in their last 11 games and are 3-8 ATS over that span. At home, they are 1-5 SU in their last six games and are 3-8 ATS in their last 11. Against San Diego, the Bengals are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games, 1-5 SU in their last six and 2-5 SU and ATS in their last seven at home.

This game is a mismatch of epic proportions. It is amazing that the Chargers are only -7 ½! I think that the Chargers roll in this game against a team that has clearly given up. San Diego is still alive and will make the AFC West that much more interesting after Week 16.

NFL Odds Pick: San Diego Chargers -7 ½