Cincinnati Bengals vs Los Angeles Chargers Prediction, Pick & Odds for Sunday Night Football

• We’ve made our Cincinnati Bengals vs Los Angeles Chargers prediction for Sunday Night Football
• The latest CIN vs LAC odds favor the Chargers by 1.5 points at home
• Read below for Bengals vs Chargers prediction, odds and expert picks

The Cincinnati Bengals (4-6) travel to SoFi Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) in a crucial AFC matchup on Sunday Night Football. Both teams are vying for playoff positioning, with the Chargers surging under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh while the Bengals are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive.

The Bengals enter off a gut-wrenching 35-34 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, their second defeat to their division rivals this season. Meanwhile, the Chargers have won three straight, most recently outlasting the Tennessee Titans 27-17.

Here is a look at our Bengals vs Chargers prediction, along with the betting lines for Sunday Night Football.

Cincinnati Bengals vs Los Angeles Chargers Odds

The Bengals vs Chargers odds show Los Angeles as a slim 1.5-point favorite at home, translating to a 56.5% implied probability. The Chargers need to win by two points or more to cover the spread.

This line opened with the Chargers as 1-point favorites before ticking up to 1.5. With the Bengals earning 60% of bets against the spread, the line movement indicates some respected money on Los Angeles. The total opened at 44.5 points and has steadily risen to 48 thanks to an influx of sharp action on the Over. Professional bettors appear to be expecting a high-scoring shootout between star quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.

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Odds current as of November 17, 2024 at Caesars Sportsbook. Access the latest NFL betting odds here.

Bengals Betting Outlook

The Bengals’ 2024 season hasn’t gone according to plan, but Joe Burrow is doing everything he can to keep Cincinnati’s fading playoff hopes alive. The LSU product leads the NFL in passing yards (2,672) and touchdowns (24) through 10 games.

Joe Burrow could throw for 18 touchdowns in a single game and the Bengals would still lose 127-126

— Kraze (@wannabekraze) November 8, 2024

Burrow’s top target Ja’Marr Chase has been equally impressive, pacing the league in catches (66), yards (981) and scores (10). The dynamic duo just hung 428 yards and four touchdowns on the Ravens, and will now face a Chargers secondary allowing 220.2 passing yards per game (23rd).

Cincinnati’s rushing attack has been a weak spot, ranking 29th at just 86 yards per contest. Getting the ground game going against Los Angeles’ 9th-ranked run defense (110.6 ypg) will be critical to keeping Burrow upright. The Bengals offensive line has yielded 23 sacks this season.

Chargers Betting Outlook

Under the guidance of Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, the Chargers have transformed into one of the NFL’s most stifling defenses. They lead the league in scoring defense, allowing a miniscule 13.1 points per game. No team has managed to score more than 20 points against them this season.

Jesse Minter's @chargers D is just the fourth unit since 1990 to hold their first nine opponents to 20 points or less.

The 41-year-old may be one and done as the DC in LA. Will be a very hot name come January. pic.twitter.com/D6WUuuo92f

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) November 11, 2024

Offensively, Justin Herbert has been supremely efficient, tossing 11 touchdowns to just one interception. Los Angeles has adopted a more run-heavy approach behind the duo of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. Dobbins ranks 10th in the NFL with 670 rushing yards.

The Chargers have excelled in the turnover battle, boasting a +9 differential that trails only Philadelphia. Herbert has thrown just a single pick in 241 attempts. Ball security will be paramount against an opportunistic Bengals defense.

Bengals vs Chargers Prediction

While I don’t have a strong lean on either side in this matchup, I do believe we’re in store for a high-scoring affair. The Bengals’ passing attack has been nearly unstoppable in recent weeks, with Burrow and Chase lighting up the scoreboard. Even against the Chargers’ elite defense, I expect Burrow to find success through the air.

On the flip side, the Bengals have been vulnerable defensively, especially against the run. Look for the Chargers to establish Dobbins and Edwards early to set up play-action opportunities for Herbert. With the total moving from 44.5 to 48 thanks to sharp money, I’m inclined to ride the Over as my best bet.

The Chargers have gone Under in seven of nine games this season. However, they simply haven’t faced an offense as explosive as Cincinnati’s. I’m banking on Burrow and Herbert to light up the SoFi Stadium scoreboard in a back-and-forth shootout. Let’s root for points!

SNF Picks & Prediction:

• Over 48 Points (-110)