LA Chargers (3-2) at Cleveland (2-2-1)
When: Sunday, October 14th 2018
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium,
Cleveland, Ohio
Time: 1:00 ET | TV: CBS
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -1.5/46
The Cleveland Browns have already doubled their win total form the previous two season combined and now they have aspirations of making the postseason under first-year quarterback Baker Mayfield. The next step is a tough one, with the Los Angeles Chargers coming to town for a Week 6 matchup at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. The Browns are coming off a hard-fought victory over AFC North-rival Baltimore to tighten-up the division race. If Cleveland is to make the playoffs, they’ll have to get through a really tough portion of their schedule starting Sunday. After the Chargers, the Browns will make a two-game trip to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, then still have to play Kansas City, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Houston, and Denver after that. The Chargers, meanwhile, have won two straight after last week’s 26-10 thrashing of the Oakland Raiders and have won nine of 12 overall dating back to last season. L.A. has the seventh-ranked offense in the league (405.2) and their starting to develop a nice running game to compliment quarterback Philip Rivers. The Chargers have failed to cover the spread in each of the last six meetings with the Browns, but are 4-2 straight-up in that span.
Rivers is off to a hot start with 1,495 yards and 13 touchdown passes against two interceptions. In last week’s win over Oakland, Rivers completed 22-of-27 for 339 yards and two scores. Running backs Melvin Gordon (six touchdowns overall), who has 595 yards from scrimmage (334 rushing, 261 receiving), and Austin Ekeler (6.0 yards/carry) are taking pressure off Rivers. Defensive end Melvin Ingram recorded one sack and his first career interception in the win over the Raiders, but the Chargers are still giving up 26 points while playing without star defensive end Joey Bosa (foot).
Mayfield has energized the offense and is coming off a season-high 342-yard performance against the Ravens, but has completed just 58.9 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and as many interceptions. A good part of Cleveland’s success so far is their ability to create turnovers. The Browns lead the NFL with 15 takeaways and are led by pass rusher Myles Garrett (five sacks) and cornerback Denzel Ward (league high-tying three interceptions). Cleveland ranks 12th in the NFL with an average of 22.6 points allowed per game this season.
People are getting a little too high on this Cleveland team, while the Chargers continue to fly under the radar. L.A.’s offense is rolling with Rivers and a solid running game, while the defense is holding their own until Bosa returns. I like the Chargers to get the job done here.
Pick: Chargers -1
Betting Trends:
- Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 6.
- Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in October.
- Chargers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Chargers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Chargers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Chargers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Chargers are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Chargers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.
- Chargers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Browns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC.
- Browns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on grass.
- Browns are 16-34-1 ATS in their last 51 games overall.
- Browns are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games following a ATS win.
- Browns are 7-17 ATS in their last 24 home games.
- Browns are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Browns are 8-24-1 ATS in their last 33 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Browns are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games in October.
- Browns are 6-19-1 ATS in their last 26 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Browns are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Browns are 3-14-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Browns are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Browns are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Browns are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Chargers last 4 games in October.
- Under is 6-1 in Chargers last 7 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1 in Chargers last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Chargers last 7 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Chargers last 5 games overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Chargers last 5 games in Week 6.
- Under is 4-1 in Chargers last 5 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 11-3 in Chargers last 14 vs. AFC.
- Under is 7-2 in Chargers last 9 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 6-2 in Chargers last 8 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 6-2 in Chargers last 8 road games.
- Under is 8-3-1 in Chargers last 12 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 28-11-1 in Chargers last 40 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 4-0 in Browns last 4 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Browns last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 5-1 in Browns last 6 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Browns last 6 games in Week 6.
- Under is 17-5 in Browns last 22 home games.
- Under is 15-5 in Browns last 20 games on grass.
- Under is 19-7 in Browns last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-2 in Browns last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Underdog is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
- Chargers are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
