Our 5-Star Special

We don't offer gambling advice often, so when we do, you know we've thought long and hard about it.
The Chargers will win Sunday. And win big.
If this were one of those early morning radio infomercials, we'd be touting this as our "5-star special." And we'd be repeating that same line about 50 times over the next hour.
We don't care what the spread is. Nine points? Fine. If your shady neighborhood bookie says 19 points, whatever, the Chargers will win and they'll cover.
The Rams are an OK team, but they've never been a good road club.
But here's the real reason why this is such a sure bet: Shawne Merriman*
The Chargers' Pro Bowl* linebacker will be allowed to play the next two games while he awaits the appeal hearing on his four-game suspension for testing positive for steroids.
And we're fully expecting Merriman* to have a huge game. We expect Merriman* to play like a man possessed, much like Charles Jefferson did for Ridgemont High after Khalil Greene wrecked his car. Come to think of it, Charles Jefferson's performance in Ridgemont High's big game against Lincoln might have been one of the very first cases of 'roid rage.
Merriman* knows these next two weeks might be his last games for a while, so he's going to take out all his aggression and frustrations on the Rams this week and next week, the Cleveland Browns.
And then there's the Martyball factor. Considering the team's recent history, the Chargers are in no mood to play another close game. They know they have no chance to win a close game, as long as their coach is named Schottenheimer, so look for the Bolts to make it a blowout.
After the Rams and Browns, the schedule gets considerably tougher with games against Cincinnati, Denver (twice), Kansas City and Seattle, so the Bolts know they must win these next two.
As confident as we are about this week's sure win, that goes double for next week against the Browns, who are simply awful.
Go ahead, bet the house. The kids' college fund? Sure, why not?
What do we care? It's not our money.