Stephen Nover
Sunday Winners
50-Dime Ravens -
NOTE - Buy UP the 1/2 point on Baltimore. If you have the Ravens at +3, buy them up to +3 1/2 so you get the win should they lose by a field goal.
If you have Baltimore at +2 1/2, buy up to +3 so you get the push should they lose by a field goal.
The Chargers are going to have problems running the ball and protecting Philip Rivers with center Nick Hardwick and guard Louis Vasquez not expected to play. It doesn't help San Diego's cause that LaDainian Tomlinson is out, too, even though the 30-year former great isn't what he used to be.
The Ravens' defense remains top-notch. Baltimore had eight tackles for losses in its opening-week victory against Kansas City. Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs remain among the best at their position with Reed probably being the No. 1 safety in the NFL.
San Diego's defense isn't that good. A healthy Shawne Merriman was expected to pick up the Chargers' defense, but he's been a distraction and didn't have his old burst back during Game 1 following reconstructive knee surgery.
Baltimore's offense is more diversified and explosive with the improvement of second-year quarterback Joe Flacco. The Chargers ranked second-from-the-bottom in pass defense last year. Flacco threw for more than 300 yards in Baltimore's opening win. The Ravens have three good running backs and with the offense gaining more confidence in Flacco, they definitely should be able to put up points against San Diego's defense.
The Chargers are on a short week having been extended in a narrow road division win Monday night against Oakland. Norv Turner is one of the worst head coaches in the league. His Chargers have failed to cover six of the past eight times they've been favored. The Chargers constantly failed when stepping up in class during the regular season last year losing to Atlanta at home, Indianapolis at home, Pittsburgh on the road, Miami on the road and Carolina at home.
The Ravens have covered 16 of their past 21 games. They are 9-2 against the spread in their last 11 AFC matchups. The Ravens are 6-1 against the number under John Harbaugh as a regular-season underdog, including 5-2 last season as a road underdog.
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