[h=1]How to bet Pittsburgh-San Diego[/h]NFL Vegas Experts, ESPN Chalk
ESPN INSIDER
ESPN Chalk's Vegas experts -- Dave Tuley, Erin Rynning and Wunderdog -- are here to provide analysis on the Monday night game in ESPN Chalk's Monday night football primer.
[h=2]Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelersat San Diego Chargers[/h]Spread: opened San Diego -3; now San Diego -3.5
Total: opened 45.5; now 46
[h=2]ATS picks[/h]Dave Tuley says:
Public perception: The public is mostly<offer style="box-sizing: border-box;"> split on this game and I think it comes down to whether they believe they can trust Pittsburgh's offense withMike Vick at the controls. The pick percentage is higher on the Chargers, though that was with a line of San Diego minus-3.</offer>
Wiseguys' view: Sharps are mostly waiting for the public to push this to 3.5 so they can back Pittsburgh. A few books have gone there, including the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook, though you still have to lay -120 to get the plus-3.5.
Tuley's take: I also like the Steelers getting more than a field goal and I'm fine with Vick running the offense. They were in control for most of the game against Baltimore until getting too conservative and letting it slip away. I've been less than impressed with the Chargers lately; they were blown out by the Vikings and barely held off the Browns, two teams I believe the Steelers could handle easily.
The pick: Pittsburgh +3.5
Erin Rynning says: The Chargers continue to feature the offensive skill position players to contend with any team in the NFL. However, their offensive line and defensive personnel continue to hold them back from being a true playoff contender. Tight end Antonio Gates returns for this contest, which provides Philip Rivers with his key security blanket. In addition, they'll own the clear advantage at the quarterback position, as it has been years since Vick showed consistent flashes of an above-average quarterback.
The Steelers are still highly questionable in their secondary, and their past three opponents (the Ravens, Rams and 49ers) simply didn't have the personnel to take advantage. Again, the Chargers will be able to attack the Steelers with their passing game, giving them the edge on Monday Night Football.
The pick: I have medium bets on the over and Chargers.
[h=2]Over/under[/h]Wunderdog says: The Chargers have been strong offensively and Rivers has a better than 105 passer rating to start the season. It appears that when Rivers is healthy early in the season, the Chargers thrive, and he does have some help in rookie running back Melvin Gordon (56 carries for 228 yards, 4.2 yards per carry). The bigger problem is a defense that has surrendered 24 or more points in all four games.
The Pittsburgh offense has gotten a lot more conservative with Vick at the helm, but he is not turning the ball over, and DeAngelo Williams and Le'Veon Bellhave produced more than 400 rushing yards this season. While Vick didn't get a lot of downfield looks in his first start, he certainly has the weapons to take a few shots in this one, especially against a San Diego defense that has struggled in all four games. Look for a more open attack by the Steelers as Vick has a game under his belt and the playbook expands with the extra week of practice. Take the over.
The pick: over 45.5
ESPN INSIDER
ESPN Chalk's Vegas experts -- Dave Tuley, Erin Rynning and Wunderdog -- are here to provide analysis on the Monday night game in ESPN Chalk's Monday night football primer.
Total: opened 45.5; now 46
[h=2]ATS picks[/h]Dave Tuley says:
Public perception: The public is mostly<offer style="box-sizing: border-box;"> split on this game and I think it comes down to whether they believe they can trust Pittsburgh's offense withMike Vick at the controls. The pick percentage is higher on the Chargers, though that was with a line of San Diego minus-3.</offer>
Wiseguys' view: Sharps are mostly waiting for the public to push this to 3.5 so they can back Pittsburgh. A few books have gone there, including the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook, though you still have to lay -120 to get the plus-3.5.
Tuley's take: I also like the Steelers getting more than a field goal and I'm fine with Vick running the offense. They were in control for most of the game against Baltimore until getting too conservative and letting it slip away. I've been less than impressed with the Chargers lately; they were blown out by the Vikings and barely held off the Browns, two teams I believe the Steelers could handle easily.
The pick: Pittsburgh +3.5
Erin Rynning says: The Chargers continue to feature the offensive skill position players to contend with any team in the NFL. However, their offensive line and defensive personnel continue to hold them back from being a true playoff contender. Tight end Antonio Gates returns for this contest, which provides Philip Rivers with his key security blanket. In addition, they'll own the clear advantage at the quarterback position, as it has been years since Vick showed consistent flashes of an above-average quarterback.
The Steelers are still highly questionable in their secondary, and their past three opponents (the Ravens, Rams and 49ers) simply didn't have the personnel to take advantage. Again, the Chargers will be able to attack the Steelers with their passing game, giving them the edge on Monday Night Football.
The pick: I have medium bets on the over and Chargers.
[h=2]Over/under[/h]Wunderdog says: The Chargers have been strong offensively and Rivers has a better than 105 passer rating to start the season. It appears that when Rivers is healthy early in the season, the Chargers thrive, and he does have some help in rookie running back Melvin Gordon (56 carries for 228 yards, 4.2 yards per carry). The bigger problem is a defense that has surrendered 24 or more points in all four games.
The Pittsburgh offense has gotten a lot more conservative with Vick at the helm, but he is not turning the ball over, and DeAngelo Williams and Le'Veon Bellhave produced more than 400 rushing yards this season. While Vick didn't get a lot of downfield looks in his first start, he certainly has the weapons to take a few shots in this one, especially against a San Diego defense that has struggled in all four games. Look for a more open attack by the Steelers as Vick has a game under his belt and the playbook expands with the extra week of practice. Take the over.
The pick: over 45.5
