Sport: NFLPick Selection: San Diego Chargers E -105
San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans 1:00 PM ET
San Diego Chargers E -105
***AFC Game of the Month*** The Chargers have to be on most every list of one of the biggest disappointments this season. At 7-5, they are already three games worse than all of last season but it is surprising how quick things can turn. San Diego is fortunate to be in a division of underachievers this year as its record actually has it in first place. The Chargers have quietly gone 6-2 over their last eight games with one of the losses coming against Jacksonville in a game they actually outgained the Jaguars.
Tennessee came into last Sunday with three straight losses and a season that was ready to take a quick downward spiral. The Titans were fortunate to knock Houston quarterback Matt Schaub out of the game with a dislocated shoulder and basically bring the Texans offense to a halt. The victory might have given Tennessee some confidence heading into the final quarter of the season but this team is still not playing very good and will be completely overmatched in this one.
After being outgained in three straight games, the Chargers have reversed that trend and have outgained their last three foes and most importantly, have won the rushing battle as well. LaDanian Tomlinson is coming off one of his best games of the season against a decent Kansas City rushing defense as he gained 177 yards on a season-high 7.7 ypc while scoring two touchdowns. Lost in the shuffle is the fact that the offensive line is opening holes and center Nick Hardwick is back to full health.
The once potent Tennessee rushing defense has fallen to 7th and while the return of Albert Haynesworth is huge for the unit, this will be the biggest test of the season for the Titans since the Chargers are coming back into form. San Diego has a solid rushing defense of its own and take away the game against Minnesota and the Chargers average allowed on the ground drops from 112.6 ypg to 88.5 ypg in their other 11 games. The Titans rely huge on the running game as Vince Young remains one of the most inconsistent around.
The Chargers picked up a much needed road victory last week and with the mediocre season they are having, the line value is in their favor again this week. A team coming off a big road win would normally be shaded the next week but that isn?t the case here. The running game will be the difference as San Diego is 16-7 ATS in its last 23 games following a game with more that 150 yards rushing and 23-9 in its last 32 games following a game with giving up fewer than 90 yards rushing. Play San Diego Chargers 2.5 Units
|
Handicappers
