Get ready for Monday Night Football! Explore the latest odds and expert picks for the thrilling matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers.
The Harbaugh Bowl will close out Week 12. Long-time Baltimore Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh has been one of the NFL’s best coaches since he took over in 2008. Harbaugh has piloted Baltimore to a 167-103 record in 270 games, and the Ravens have only finished the season with fewer than eight wins one time.
Younger brother Jim Harbaugh was fantastic in San Francisco, leading the 49ers to a 44-19-1 record before taking over his alma mater at Michigan in 2015. There were some rocky moments with the Wolverines where it never seemed like he would get over the hump, but Michigan won its first national championship in a quarter century last season, and Harbaugh made the move back to the NFL as a result. He is poised to lead the Chargers to just their third 10+ win season since 2009.
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Week 12 Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers
Baltimore Ravens -2.5Los Angeles Chargers +2.5Total 51
The opening NFL betting odds listed Baltimore as a 3.5-point favorite in this game. Action has been coming in on the Chargers in the lead-up to this game though, resulting in the number crossing three. There has also been significant action on the total as this number has shot up from 48 to 51 and might rise even higher before kickoff.
Baltimore Ravens Overview
Lamar Jackson is no longer the NFL MVP favorite per the current football futures odds, but the two-time league MVP is having a spectacular season. Although he continues to struggle against Pittsburgh, Jackson is completing 67% of his passes for 2,876 yards (9.0 YPA) with 25 touchdowns and three interceptions. He probably won’t break the 1,000-yard plateau again, but Jackson is an elite runner with 584 yards (6.1 YPC) and two touchdowns on the season.
Derrick Henry has been a game changer for Baltimore. Henry has outperformed all expectations since breaking the national rushing record at small Yulee High School in Nassau County, Florida, and he has shown that some running backs are still incredibly valuable even if they are on the wrong side of 30. The former Heisman Trophy winner leads the NFL with 1,185 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, and he is averaging 6.0 YPC.
The ground game has made the Baltimore offense the most efficient unit in the NFL. The Ravens rank first in total yards per play and yards per carry, and second in yards per attempt. They are currently second in scoring offense too, averaging 30.4 PPG.
Baltimore continues to have major problems in the secondary though. This was seen as the Ravens strength in the offseason, but they are surrendering 284.5 YPG through the air. The front seven continues to get the job done and leads the NFL in rush defense, but they might be missing their biggest contributor as Roquan Smith is questionable with a hamstring injury.
Los Angeles Chargers Overview
Justin Herbert has been turned into a bit of a game manager in Jim Harbaugh’s offense. Herbert was previously more of a gunslinger, but he has thrown for just 2,186 yards through 10 games and has only 13 touchdown passes to his name. However, Herbert has only turned the ball over twice, and that has helped turn things around for the Chargers.
J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards were both previously with the Ravens, so they will have a little extra pep in their step on Monday Night Football. Dobbins has been more of the workhorse back with 726 yards (4.8 YPC) and eight touchdowns, while Edwards has largely been used on short yardage.
Rookie Ladd McConkey has been the best receiver for the Chargers with 43 receptions for 615 yards and four touchdowns. No other player has had more than 365 receiving yards though, so there isn’t another receiver to really focus on for the Baltimore defense.
Monday Night Football Prediction
The Chargers lead the league in scoring defense (14.5 PPG), but they will have their hands full on Monday night. I expect Baltimore to carve up a front seven surrendering 4.7 YPC, as the Ravens win a bit of a shootout.
Final Score: Baltimore 34, Los Angeles 27
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