NFL gambling sites favor the Chiefs (14-5 SU, 10-9 ATS) to advance to their third consecutive Super Bowl. They opened as touchdown faves over the Bengals (12-7, 12-7) in the AFC championship game. According to the best online sportsbooks, Cincinnati is 6-0 ATS in its past six games. That includes a 34-31 win over Kansas City earlier this month.
NFL gambling sites made the Chiefs favorites by a full TD when they opened the AFC championship game betting line. That is 3.5 points more than what KC was favored by when they went to Cincinnati on January 2. The Bengals won that game and also won last week in Tennessee as four-point road dogs. That moved them to 6-0 ATS this season when they catch a field goal or more.
Bengals vs. Chiefs AFC Championship Game Odds by BetOnline
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals | +7 ( -110 ) | 54 ( -110 ) | +270 |  |
| Chiefs | -7 ( -110 ) | 54 ( -110 ) | -340 | |
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Betting Cincinnati Bengals
The key to Cincinnati’s 5-1 SU and 6-0 ATS run in its last six games, even more than Joe Burrow, may have been the play of the defense. Cincy’s secondary set up the game-winning field goal in last week’s 19-16 win over Tennessee by picking off Ryan Tannehill close to midfield. That was one of three Bengals interceptions in the contest.
Cincinnati has now given up 21 points or fewer in regulation time in six of its past seven games, as well as eight of 10. The defense helped Burrow overcome a postseason-high nine sacks allowed. That exposed a Cincy offensive line that has been a problem all year.
Coach Zach Taylor took some of the responsibility following the game. He said he needs to call plays which allow Burrow to get the ball out sooner. Rookie kicker Evan McPherson hit all four of his field-goal attempts. Two of which were from 50+ yards. McPherson is 8-for-8 in the postseason. But the Bengals won’t want to have to settle for field goals against the high-scoring Chiefs.
Betting Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are home chalk per NFL gambling sites. Kansas City’s offense took their sweet time to get going, but now the attack looks as good as ever with Mahomes under center. Last week’s 42-36 OT win over Buffalo was the second game in a row where KC scored 42 points on an opponent.
Denver is the only team to hold the Chiefs under 31 points in their past seven games. Mahomes drove the Chiefs 44 yards in 10 seconds for the tying field goal at the end of regulation, but don’t dismiss KC’s running game.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for 60 yards on seven carries. Jerick McKinnon contributed 78 total yards on 15 touches. The Chiefs finished with 182 yards on the ground. On defense, things aren’t so good right now for KC.
Especially if Tyrann Mathieu is out against Cincinnati after he left last week’s game with a concussion. The Chiefs allowed Gabriel Davis to set an league playoff record with four receiving TDs. They also surrendered 329 passing yards. Kansas City’s past eight games have had an average of 60.4 points scored. Seven of them have gone OVER.
AFC Championship Game Bengals vs. Chiefs Pick
One could really go either way on this one, but the Chiefs are coming off a bravura performance over a game Buffalo team. They bagged 552 total yards and 30 first downs along the way. Kansas City is en fuego offensively in these first two games of the postseason. The Chiefs did fall to Cincinnati 34-31 back on January 2. We fully expect this one to be, in the words of the great Jim Ross, a slobberknocker of a game.
