San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys Odds

Opening Line: Chargers +3 / Cowboys -3 O/U 48.5

Time: 4:15 PM EST Sunday December 13, 2009 on CBS

by Marasoft.com Staff

In a very important non-conference game for both teams the Dallas Cowboys host the San Diego Chargers. Both teams are in 1st place in their respective divisions, but the Cowboys are tied with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East and the Chargers only lead the Denver Broncos by 1 game in the AFC West. The Cowboys are coming off a loss to the Giants and their defense did not look good in the game. The Chargers have won 7 straight and a couple weeks back it looked as if the AFC was in the bag, but the Broncos have rebounded and won 2 in a row and are right on the heels of San Diego in the division.

This season the Cowboys are 5-1 at home and the Chargers are 5-1 on the road. Both teams are 6-6 ATS this season.

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Last week the Chargers beat the Cleveland Browns 30-23 while the Cowboys lost to the New York Giants 31-24.

The Cowboys are led by QB Tony Romo (3,325 yds 20 TD 7 INT) and his main targets are WR Miles Austin (52 rec 928 yds 9 TD) and TE Jason Witten (73 rec 744 yds 1 TD). The Cowboys solid rushing attack is led by the duo of Marion Barber (669 yds 4 TD) and Felix Jones (427 yds 2 TD). The Chargers are led by QB Phillip Rivers (3,311 yds 21 TD 6 INT) and his main targets are TE Antonio Gates (67 rec 994 yds 4 TD) and WR Vincent Jackson (51 rec 869 yds 7 TD). The Chargers' rushing attack, using attack very loosely, is led by the RB duo of LeDainian Tomlinson (561 yds 9 TD) and Darren Sproles (254 yds 1 TD).

The Cowboys have the 3rd ranked offense in the league and they were well balanced being able to move the chains on the ground and in the air. Tony Romo had a career week in the Cowboys last game, but they still lost. The Cowboys have to run the ball in this game, as the Chargers have one of the better secondaries in the league while their run defense is giving up an average of 118 rushing yards per game. The Chargers rank 12th on the defense and they have been playing solid in their 7-game winning streak. However, they have to play better in this game than their last game when the lowly Browns scored 23 points on them. The Chargers have to keep Miles Austin from making the big play downfield, as he is averaging just under 18 yards per reception.

The Chargers' offense ranks 11th in the league, but, unlike the Cowboys, they are far from well balanced, as their rushing offense s only averaging 88.7 yards per game. Phillip Rivers is having a solid season leading a passing offense that is averaging 266.8 yards per game through the air. Tomlinson and Sproles have struggled all season and each is only averaging 3.3 yards per carry. They have to pick up some yards to take some pressure off Rivers. The Dallas defense ranks 14th in the league, but are stronger against the run than the pass. They have to have solid coverage on Gates and Jackson who are big receivers at 6'4" and 6'5" respectively. If the Cowboys defend the pass like they did in last week's loss to the Giants they will be in big trouble in the Big D.

The Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games and the total has gone Over in 6 of their last 9 road games. The Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 away games and the total has gone Under in 4 of their last 5 games.

The Marasoft Pick: Dallas -3