Week 13 of the 2021 NFL season goes on Sunday, December 5, so we’re breaking down the AFC showdown from Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, to get you the best Chargers vs. Bengals betting pick and odds. 

According to MyBookie Sportsbook, the Bengals are 3-point home favorites, while the Chargers are +140 moneyline dogs with a total of 50.5 points. Los Angeles aims for its third straight victory over Cincinnati. Last year, the Chargers outlasted the Bengals as 3-point road favorites, 16-13. 

The Chargers’ iffy form continues  

The Los Angeles Chargers fell to 6-5 SU and 5-6 ATS on the season following a 28-13 defeat at the Denver Broncos this past Sunday. It was their fourth loss in the last six outings, as the Chargers continue to struggle after a strong start and four wins in their first five games of the season.

Justin Herbert had a bad day in the office against the Broncos’ secondary. He went 28-of-44 for 303 yards and a couple of touchdowns and interceptions, including Pat Surtain’s pick-six in the fourth quarter.

Once more, the Chargers’ offense was one-dimensional, tallying only 17 rushing attempts for 72 yards. On the other side of the ball, the Chargers allowed 147 yards on 33 carries. LA’s run D is dead last in the NFL, surrendering 145.3 yards per game, while the Chargers’ offense is averaging 103.0 rushing yards per contest (22nd in the NFL).

The Bengals trounced Pittsburgh for their second win in a row       

The Cincinnati Bengals improved to 7-4 SU and 6-5 ATS on the season following a 41-10 thrashing of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. Joe Mixon ran for a career-high 165 yards, and the Bengals dropped 31 first-half points on the Steelers to record their second straight victory.

Cincy picked off Big Ben twice, including Mike Hilton’s pick-six with 30 seconds left on the clock in the second quarter. Mixon carried the pigskin 28 times and accounted for a couple of touchdowns, while Joe Burrow went 20-of-24 for 190 yards, a TD, and an interception. Burrow also scored on his lone carry to break the deadlock.

The Bengals boast the sixth-highest scoring offense in the NFL, averaging 28.1 points per game. They’ve scored a whopping 73 points in two outings since their bye week, and Joe Mixon has recorded 58 totes for 288 yards and four touchdowns in that span.

Trends:

LA Chargers:

  • 1-5 ATS in the last six games overall
  • 1-4 ATS in the last five games against the AFC 

Cincinnati:

  • 6-1-1 ATS in the last eight games against the Chargers
  • 4-0-1 ATS in the last five games against the AFC

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Pick

The Bengals’ front seven has done a great job so far, allowing only 93.7 rushing yards per game (5th in the NFL) and posting 28 sacks (tied-10th). Cincinnati ranks 25th in passing defense (254.5 YPG), so Justin Herbert and his offense will certainly stand a chance of moving the ball.

On the other side, the Bengals will roll over the Chargers’ D if they continue to rush as much as they can. Hereof, I’m going with the hosts to win and cover, though this should be a really tight contest down the stretch. Both teams are in the playoff hunt, and the Chargers desperately need a win.

Pick: Take Cincinnati Bengals -3.0 at -110                    

The Total:

The under is 6-0 in the last six encounters between the Chargers and Bengals. On the other hand, four of the Bengals’ last five games have gone over the total, producing 51 or more points each. The over is 3-2 in the Chargers’ last five outings, while four of their last five road contests have gone under the total.

The Chargers have allowed 24 or more points in seven straight showings. I’m looking for more of the same in Week 13, and the Chargers should have enough firepower to surpass a 20-point mark after laying and egg against Denver.

Pick: Go over 50.5 points at -110