Sports Betting

AFC West Betting Preview: Why the Chiefs and Raiders Present Value in Ways You Wouldn’t Expect

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Patrick Mahomes runs the ball against the Chargers.

There isn’t a division in the NFL more fascinating than the AFC West heading into this season. It wouldn’t be a shock if any of these four teams make a run to the Super Bowl in 2023, and our next champion may very well come from this stacked group.

So, between the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders, which team is the betting favorite to win the AFC West, and are there any valuable wagers to put down?

AFC West betting odds

Patrick Mahomes runs the ball against the Chargers.
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs scrambles against the Los Angeles Chargers | Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

The AFC West has run through Kansas City for the last half-decade. Andy Reid and the Chiefs have won the last six division titles, and they’re the betting favorites to make it seven straight.

The Chiefs currently stand as +155 favorites to win the AFC West, with the Chargers (+240) and Broncos (+260) close behind. The Raiders are the biggest underdogs of the group at +700.

As for Super Bowl odds, the Chiefs are near the top of the odds board at +950 to win it all. Only the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are above Kansas City. The Chargers and Broncos stand at 16/1 and 17/1, respectively, and the Raiders are 40/1.

Check out the full betting breakdown of the AFC West below:

AFC West win totals
Kansas City Chiefs: 10.5
Los Angeles Chargers: 9.5
Denver Broncos: 9.5
Las Vegas Raiders: 8.5

Odds to win AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs: +155
Los Angeles Chargers: +240
Denver Broncos: +260
Las Vegas Raiders: +700

Odds to win AFC
Kansas City Chiefs: +500
Los Angeles Chargers: +850
Denver Broncos: +850
Las Vegas Raiders: +2500

Odds to win Super Bowl
Kansas City Chiefs: +950
Los Angeles Chargers: +1600
Denver Broncos: +1700
Las Vegas Raiders: +4000

AFC West best bets: Going against the grain with the Chiefs and Raiders

Chiefs UNDER 10.5 wins (-105)

In one of the strongest divisions we’ve seen in NFL history, I think the best strategy is to play the extremes. Since the Chiefs have the highest win total in the AFC West, I’ll take a chance on the under and hope carnage ensues.

Kansas City has an absolutely brutal schedule in 2022-23. There won’t be any easy wins in the AFC West, and the Chiefs drew the Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, and Indianapolis Colts in their non-division schedule.

Yikes.

I don’t know if any of these four teams reach 11 wins this season, so I’ll target the one with the highest total.

Raiders to win AFC West (+700)

If we’re going the extreme route, Las Vegas is the only bet to make to win the AFC West.

The Raiders should be able to score at will with Davante Adams now in the fold. I could see any of these teams winning the division in 2022-23, so let’s take a chance on the longest price.

All betting odds courtesy of FanDuel as of 7/26.

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