L.A. Chargers
vs.
Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL Pick
ATS Trends
12/2/2018
By: Jason Green
L.A. Chargers (8-3 SU 6-5 ATS) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1 SU 6-4-1 ATS)
The Chargers have won seven of their last eight Games and in their last Game they put up 45 points. They are only one Game back of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West and they still face them this season one more time. Phillip Rivers has to be in the MVP conversation and he may have to carry the load more in this Game with lead rusher Melvin Gordon (802 yards 9 TD) likely out with a knee injury.
The Steelers had their six-Game win streak snapped in their last Game losing to the Denver Broncos and the main reason they lost was turnovers. They had Four and did not force any and they dominated the Broncos in terms of total yards. They are still in first place in the AFC North and while the Ravens are 6-5 and have won two in a row Pittsburgh already faced them twice.
The Steelers are a 3.5-point home favorite with a total of 51.5.
This season the Chargers are 6-5 ATS with an O/U record of 6-5 and the Steelers are 6-4-1 ATS with an O/U record of 6-5.
These teams have not met since the 2015 season.
The Steelers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven home Games facing the Chargers.
In their last Game, the Chargers blew out the Arizona Cardinals beating them 45-10. After going down 10-0 in the first quarter L.A. outscored Arizona 45-0 in the last three quarters. They racked up 414 yards in the Game and their D came up big holding the Cardinals to only 149 yards.
Rivers set a NFL record in the Arizona Game with 25 straight completions and he passed for 259 yards with three TD and was not picked off. Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler combined for 140 receiving yards and Ekeler and Justin Jackson combined for 92 rushing yards and will man the backfield with Gordon likely out. In the Chargers three losses Rivers had three INT and in the eight wins he has only thrown three INT.
The Steelers are back to being a legit defensive team, despite the loss in their last Game, and rank 4th in the league in pass defense and 6th in run defense.
The Steelers were on the road in their last Game losing to the Denver Broncos 24-17. They outGAined them 527 yards to 308 yards, but the turnovers killed them. Ben Roethlisberger put up big numbers going 41/56 for 462 yards, but only had one TD and was picked off twice. JuJu Smith-SChuster hauled in the TD pass in the Game from Big Ben and he had 189 receiving yards. James Conner rushed for only 53 yards and he also lost a fumble in the Game. Big Ben has passed for at least t314 yards in three straight Games, but in his last two Games he has five INT.
L.A. ranks 7th in the league defending the pass and 13th defending the run and their pass D will be vital in this AFC eNCounter.
Key Betting Trends
Chargers
4-1 ATS in their last 5 road Games
5-2 ATS in their last 7 Games
Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 Games
Steelers
5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 Games
3-7 ATS in their last 10 home Games
Over record of 6-1 in their last 7 home Games
Jason’s Pick: Roethlisberger has had five picks in his last two Games, but both of those Games were on the road and he only has three INT at home this season. Look for him to hold onto the rock in this Game and lead the Steelers to a win, and they will cover as well, over the Chargers, who will get a big Game from Rivers, but they will moss Gordon.