The hook looms large heading into the week 17 Chiefs at Bengals betting matchup. Kansas City is a -3.5 road favorite at Paul Brown Stadium, but that actually seems kind of low considering Andy Reid’s team has strung along 8 straight wins. 62% of public betting is on KC here.
Is this a trap game, because the Chiefs have also covered the number in six straight and are coming off a dominant 36-10 win over Pittsburgh last week. Cincinnati looked good last Sunday in handing the Ravens a 41-21 loss, but Baltimore was also very shorthanded and down to their 3rd string QB. The Bengals could also be in a letdown spot, with their win last week giving them a season sweep of the Ravens and a one game lead in the AFC North with two to play.
Chiefs Keep Chugging Along
Kansas City continues to roll and really looks like an unstoppable force following last week’s victory over Pittsburgh which stretched the Chiefs win streak to 8 games. The win over the Steelers came even with Travis Kelce in COVID protocols and Tyreek Hill being limited to a season low 29 snaps after his return from the illness list.
Kelce is back and Hill should have better stamina heading into the week 17 Chiefs at Bengals betting matchup. At 11-4 Kansas City has clinched the AFC West, but they won’t get complacent in this matchup as 10-5 Tennessee is still in the hunt for the #1 seed throughout the playoffs. KC wants opponents to have to come to Arrowhead in January, and this year the #1 seed is the only one who gets a bye with the expanded playoffs.
Patrick Mahomes was a very efficient 23/30 with 3 TDs last week against the Steelers’ #13 pass defense while also missing Kelce and with Hill limited. That’s 8 TDs to 1 INT the last three games, and Mahomes should be in line for a huge day against a Bengals pass defense that is #29 vs. the pass (252.8 ypg). Cincinnati allowed 304 yards and 2 TDs to Baltimore’s Josh Johnson last week – making his first start since 2018.
Looks Like a Burrow – Mahomes Shootout
Even though Baltimore was shorthanded on offense last week, their defense was still mostly in tact and Joe Burrow shredded them for 525 yards with 4 TD and 0 INT. Then again the Ravens do have the worst pass defense in the league (280.5), but KC is 25th giving up 245.7 ypg.
What we don’t know is if last week’s performance from Burrow – which featured 125+ receiving yards from both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins – is if it was a once off or the new look? This is still a Bengals team that only won 15-10 the week prior in Denver. Playing their fifth game at home in the last six tilts definitely helps Cincinnati, especially when KC has played four of their last five at Arrowhead.
Free Week 17 Bengals at Chiefs Betting Pick
There’s something that seems off about KC being a -3.5 favorite, a number that seems low the way the Chiefs have rattled off wins in their last 8 games. That makes it look like a Chiefs 3-point win, and although a Bengals win wouldn’t be a shock, this one being a low scoring contest would be.
Chiefs 37 – Bengals 34
Free Pick: Over 51
