MNF Doubleheader Betting: Ravens and Chargers Will Lead the Way to Victory

Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet

Ravens @ Buccaneers (+3.5, O/U 49.5)

The Ravens and Bucs have emerged as two of the hottest NFL prospects in recent memory. Tampa Bay scored 51 points against the Saints last week, while Baltimore has scored at least 30 points in three straight games. What defense can do enough to slow down an opponent’s offensive attack?

Case for the Ravens

• After starting 0-2, the Ravens have won four games in a row and closed out three of their last four.
• Since Baltimore drafted Lamar Jackson, the Ravens are 19-14-1 road favorites.
• The Ravens lead the NFL in total offense, averaging 453 yards and 205 rushing yards per contest. The Eagles have the second-leading rushing record, averaging 166 yards per contest.

• Baker Mayfield is 1-4 and has an ATS on Monday Night Football.

Case for Books

• The Bucs (4-2 straight and ATS) have the third-best scoring offense in the NFL (29.7 ppg).
• Tampa Bay has a top 10 passing and rushing attack.
• Mayfield leads the NFL in touchdown passes (15) and has just five interceptions, three of which came last week.

X factors

• Jackson dominated the NFC with a 22-1 (11-11-1 ATS) record against conference opponents.
• Five of Baltimore’s six games this season have gone over the total, while four of Tampa Bay’s six games have gone over the total.
• The Ravens’ strength is running the football and stopping the run. Baltimore is allowing a minimum of 3.0 yards per rush. The Bucs rely on a balanced offense that ranks as the eighth-best rushing attack in the NFL, but it could stumble against the Ravens.
• Tampa Bay opens up the passing game when they run the ball effectively. The Bucs will have a hard time moving the ball if they don’t gain yards on the ground. Nine of the 12 runners Baltimore faced came under their plate.
• Led by Derrick Henry, the Ravens lead the NFL in yards per carry (5.9), while the Bucs allow 4.7 yards per carry, ninth-worst in the league.

Best bet – Ravens -3.5

This matchup will be decided in the trenches, and Baltimore has the edge in the running game on both sides of the ball. The Ravens are dangerous because Henry and Jackson are elite threats. The Bucs haven’t shown any answers in the elite ground game this year and will struggle to score against the Ravens’ high-scoring defense.

Top prop: Derrick Henry with over 89.5 yards rushing.

Henry has rushed for at least 90 yards in his last four games. As noted earlier, the Bucs can’t stop the run. The former Titan will never go without trying, so expect another big performance from Henry.

The Chargers (3-2) made strides on offense against a stingy Broncos defense last week, while the Packers routed the Cardinals (2-4). Los Angeles and Arizona are desperate to make strides in their division races, and both have a golden opportunity in what oddsmakers predict will be a hotly contested interconference matchup.

Charger case

• Since his time with the 49ers, Jim Harbaugh is 6-0 straight and 5-1 ATS in the MNF.

• Justin Herbert is 4-0 straight up and 3-1 ATS as the favorite on the road at MNF.

• The Chargers have the NFL’s highest-scoring defense (13.2 points per game) and the fifth-fewest yards per game (289).
• Anderton scored in 24 of Herbert’s last 35 starts.

Case for the Cardinals

• Kyler Murray is 27-17-2 as an underdog in his career, the second-best mark behind Jared Goff since 2019.

• The Cardinals have the seventh-fastest rushing offense in the NFL (145 yards per game).
• It’s hard to make a case for the Cardinals, who have struggled defensively and been inconsistent offensively.

X factors

• Arizona ranks last in the league in virtually every major defensive statistical category and can’t string together stops consistently. Although the Chargers offense has stalled, they have a great opportunity to dominate a weak defense.
• The Cardinals have to rely on their run game, but the Chargers are allowing less than 100 yards per game. Arizona has no chance if it can’t move the ball on the ground.
• On the other hand, the Cardinals have the third-most hits per contest (153). Los Angeles will look to start the game early, which will make Herbert’s passing options easier.

Best bet – Chargers -1.5

The Cardinals won’t be able to move the ball to the Chargers defense. Arizona’s suspect defense won’t stop Los Angeles from scoring often, and Jim Harbaugh’s track record on Monday Night Football in San Francisco speaks for itself.

Top prop: J.C. Dobbins, over 79.5 yards rushing.

As established, the Cardinals are struggling against the run. The Chargers pass to JK Dobbins frequently, and he usually takes advantage of his kicks despite slowing down after a fast start to the season. He rushed for more than 80 yards in three of his five games.

Sam Oshtree is a sports betting writer for theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for greater bet coverage.