Cardinals vs Chargers | Prediction & Pick

Sunday, October 3, 2010

vs.

Arizona Cardinals at San Diego Chargers 4:15 PM FOX – All I keep hearing is how the Chargers (1-2) are off to another slow start under coach Norv Turner, and how San Diego has gone 6-8 in September in its four seasons under Turner, but how the they responded with winning streaks that gave them the AFC West title in the first three.

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Well, I don’t buy it, and the team’s optimism is nothing more than a cover up for playing some really awful football.

With one of the NFC West’s best QBs in Phillip Rivers, who by the way threw a franchise-record 455 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 27-20 loss to Seattle, the Chargers should be commanding wins at will. Instead, they are giving wins away, committing five turnovers, the last coming when Rivers was picked off—for the second time — at the Seahawks’ 5-yard line in the final seconds.

I’ve seen better play from the local Pop Warner team. San Diego lost three fumbles, committed 11 penalties for 83 yards, and allowed two kickoff returns for scores, including a 99-yarder in the fourth quarter that sealed their doom.

A typical slow start or just plain sloppy play?

Meanwhile, the Cardinals (2-1) bounced back from a 41-7 blowout at Atlanta in the previous week by hanging on to beat Oakland 24-23 on Sunday.

Although I am not overly impressed with the Cardinals, their ground game appears to be getting better, as Beanie Wells returned to rush for 75 yards on 14 carries.

The real problem remains at QB, and Arizona still needs more out of Derek Anderson, who went just 12 of 26 for 122 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

The Cardinals rank 25th in offense and are allowing 231.3 passing yards per game, and that number could go up after they face Rivers, who has thrown for an NFL-high 1,087 yards.

San Diego has won eight of 11 all-time meetings with Arizona and five of six at home, but their poor start has killed the buzz. If the Chargers can’t turn things around this weekend, the Cardinals could embarrass them in front of their hometown fans.

PREDICTION: Arizona

The Odds makers have the Chargers as a -8 point favorite with an over/under of 45.

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Arizona Cardinals Betting Trends:

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Arizona’s last 5 games
• Arizona is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games
• Arizona is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
• Arizona is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road

San Diego Chargers Betting Trends:

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Diego’s last 7 games
• San Diego is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games
• San Diego is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games
• San Diego is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home