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The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Cincinnati Bengals in a crucial Week 17 AFC matchup. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Chiefs-Bengals prediction and pick.
Both of these teams are firmly entrenched in the playoff picture. Kansas City rebounded from an abysmal early start to play their way into the first seed in the conference. A win here would almost certainly secure the first seed and the precious bye week that comes with it for the Chiefs. The Bengals are not nearly as comfortable as Kansas City is. Cincinnati currently leads the AFC North, but only by a game. A loss and a win from the Baltimore Ravens could seriously jeopardize the Bengals chance of making the postseason, so this game is incredibly important for them.
For more insight on the Chiefs-Bengals matchup in Week 17, listen below:
Here are the odds for the Chiefs-Bengals Week 17 game, courtesy of FanDuel.
NFL Odds: Chiefs-Bengals Odds
Kansas City Chiefs: -4.5 (-110)
Cincinnati Bengals: +4.5 (-110)
Over: 51 (-110)
Under: 51 (-110)
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Why The Chiefs Could Cover The Spread
This is one of the best matchups that quarterback Patrick Mahomes has encountered all season long. The Bengals have been one fo the worst teams in the NFL at slowing down opposing passers, and now they encounter one of, if not the, best passing offenses in the league. Cincinnati allows 252 passing yards per game while also allowing a 66% completion percentage to opposing passers. The Chiefs have scored more than 30 points in three consecutive contests, mainly because of fantastic play from Mahomes, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and tight end Travis Kelce. That trio will absolutely shred the Bengals in this game.
The Bengals have been one of the more inconsistent offensive teams in the NFL. Yes, quarterback Joe Burrow exploded for 525 passing yards in Week 16, but his performances leading up to that game inspired less confidence. Cincinnati was held to less than 25 points in three consecutive games heading into Week 16. Now they have to face a Chiefs defense that's playing elite football. Kansas City has allowed more than ten points once in the last five weeks, while also forcing at least one turnover in each of their last ten contests. Cincinnati has a negative turnover differential coming into this game, so this is a bad matchup all around for them.
Why The Bengals Could Cover The Spread
While Kansas City has been elite on defense lately, they still have a major weakness on that side of the ball. The Chiefs have been awful in run defense all season long. Head coach Andy Reid's squad is currently allowing 116 rushing yards per game and 4.7 yards per carry to opposing ball carriers. Those are two of the worst numbers in the league, and the Bengals should be able to exploit them with the right game plan. If Cincinnati can get off to a good start and hang with the Chiefs early in the game, they won't be forced to try to catch up through the air. A good start should lead to a very close contest, with the Bengals using the running game to move the ball and keep Kansas City's offense on the sideline.
Cincinnati comes into this game as one of the best teams in the league at covering the spread. The Bengals own an 8-7 record on the season ATS, with a 4-3 record as underdogs. This is also a home game for Cincinnati, giving them a big advantage. Kansas City has lost two huge games on the road to Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans, two teams that aren't as good as the Bengals are.
Final Chiefs-Bengals Prediction & Pick
This is a pretty easy pick. The Chiefs have been far more consistent lately, and they're undeniably the more talented team. Take Kansas City with confidence.
Final Chiefs-Bengals Prediction & Pick: Kansas City Chiefs: -4.5 (-110)