BetUS NFL odds: SAN DIEGO -6.5, Total 44.5
NOTABLE STAT: San Diego leads the league in scoring (34.5 ppg)
KEY NFL FOOTBALL BETTING TREND: Chargers are 11-1-1 ATS in their last 13 games
(For more useful stats and trends, visit our special Matchup Tool)
The San Diego Chargers (2-2 SU, 2-1-1 ATS), who have rebounded from an 0-2 start, take to the road this weekend when they visit the Miami Dolphins (1-2 SU & ATS), coming off their best win in years, in an AFC contest in NFL action that is slated for a 1 PM ET kickoff on Sunday at Dolphin Stadium (natural turf) in Miami.
In the BetUS NFL online betting odds, the Chargers are listed as a 6.5-point favorite, with a posted total of 44.5 points.
Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):
* SD is 11-1-1 ATS in its last 13 games
* SD has won 10 of its last 13 games SU
* SD has played five of its last six games OVER the total
* SD is 6-0-1 ATS in its last seven road games
* SD has won five of its last seven road games SU
* SD has played four of its last five road games OVER the total
* MIA is 6-11-2 ATS in its last 19 games
* MIA has lost 20 of its last 22 games SU
* MIA has played six of its last eight games OVER the total
* MIA has covered one of its last five home games
* MIA has lost nine of its last ten home games SU
* MIA has played six of its last nine home games OVER the total
Also...
* MIA has covered six of the last seven meetings
* MIA has won the last six meetings SU
* The last seven meetings have gone UNDER the total
* MIA has covered the last five meetings as the home team
* The last three meetings in Miami have gone UNDER the total
The Chargers are on the way back....aren't they? After all, they have won two games in a row and came from behind against Oakland last week for win #2. Then again, I guess that's the problem: they had to come from behind against OAKLAND to do it. Sometimes the Chargers go into a lull, and they haven't been very stingy at the line of scrimmage (4.5 ypc allowed).
There are bright spots for the Dolphins, for sure. Miami has only turned the ball over once this season. And their 38-point ouburst at New England can't simply be attributed to the Pats' "lack of Brady" in the lineup. But was that an anomaly for Miami? San Diego certainly knows how to put points up, having chalked up 34.5 points per game thus far. Phillip Rivers has 10 TD passes, and in brief spurts of action Darren Sproles has become something of a secret weapon from scrimmage, gaining 5.3 yards a rush and 23.2 yards per reception.
The Dolphins broke out something called the "Wildcat" offense last week against the Patriots, containing elements of the spread option and single-wing. It was used at Arkansas the last couple of years, with Darren McFadden as the trigger man. For Miami it was Ronnie Brown, who ran for four TD's and passed for a fifth. It would make sense that the 'Fins are going to try and augment what they do along those lines, though of course it will not longer be a surprise to the Chargers' staff.
What I see as key here is that Miami's secondary is not making a lot of progress, as it has allowed almost nine yards a pass, 69% completions and six TD passes, with only one interception. Rivers had advanced it 9.3 yards an attempt, and now has some varied weaponry, including Chris Chambers, who's become a big-play receiver (24.5 yds/catch), along with Vincent Jackson (16.4 yards/catch), Pro Bowler Antonio Gates, fullback Mike Tolbert, Sproles, and of course, LaDanian Tomlinson. Miami won't trade points unless they can come up with a whole new offense. Maybe the run 'n shoot?
We're going to lay the points with the San Diego Chargers, who are 11-1-1 ATS in their last 13 games and the 6.5-point favorites in the BetUS NFL football betting odds.
PLAY: SAN DIEGO -6.5 **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)