AFC West betting preview: Chiefs aiming for historical past

The Kansas City Chiefs enter 2024 off their second straight Tremendous Bowl championship and are the favourite to win a document third straight (5-1). No staff in league historical past has gained three in a row and even reached the sport after profitable the earlier two titles.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, coming off a disappointing statistical common season by his lofty requirements, is the MVP favourite at +475. He’ll have added assist in the receiver room after the Chiefs (-250 to win the AFC West) added speedster Xavier Worthy within the draft, reunited with JuJu Smith-Schuster and signed Marquise Brown in free company, although Brown seemingly will not be prepared for the beginning of the season (shoulder).

The Las Vegas Raiders come into the season following an encouraging end to 2023 after Antonio Pierce took over teaching duties. The offense will look a bit completely different, with questions at quarterback and Zamir White (Over 800.5 speeding yards, -115 at ESPN BET) poised to take over lead again duties following Josh Jacobs‘ offseason exit. They do nonetheless have star wideout Davante Adams (Over 1,000.5 receiving yards, -130) and likewise added tight finish Brock Bowers (40-1 to win Offensive Rookie of the 12 months) with the No. 13 decide within the draft.

The Denver Broncos (8-9 final season) have the bottom win whole projection within the division (5.5) and can have rookie Bo Nix (11-1 to win Offensive Rookie of the 12 months) taking on underneath middle. He would be the first rookie quarterback to start out a season opener for the Broncos since John Elway in 1983.

The Los Angeles Chargers (+350 to win the AFC West, behind solely the Chiefs) are in a little bit of a transitional stage as properly. Jim Harbaugh returns to the NFL recent off profitable a nationwide championship at Michigan and inherits a staff that also has Justin Herbert at quarterback (though he’s coming off an damage) however now not has operating again Austin Ekeler or huge receiver Keenan Allen. The Chargers added receiver Ladd McConkey within the draft and operating backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards in free company.

Listed below are all the chances for the AFC West groups and our ideas on potential wagers.

Odds as of publication. For essentially the most up-to-date odds, go to ESPN BET.

2024 schedules/traces: Chiefs, Raiders, Broncos, Chargers
2023: Chiefs (11-6), Raiders (8-9), Broncos (8-9), Chargers (5-12)
Overview: NFC East | NFC West | NFC North | NFC South | AFC East
Arising: AFC North (Wednesday) | AFC South (Thursday)

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Courtesy ESPN Stats & Info

• The Chiefs enter the 2024 season trying to make historical past by turning into the primary staff ever to win three straight Tremendous Bowls. Of the earlier eight groups to win back-to-back Tremendous Bowls, none of them even made it again to the Tremendous Bowl of their quest for a three-peat.

• Kansas Metropolis gained eight straight AFC West titles, trailing solely the New England Patriots for the longest streak of division championships in NFL historical past (11, 2009-19). In response to ESPN Analytics, the Chiefs have a 74.4% probability to win the division this season.

• The Chargers have a 19% probability to win the AFC West for the primary time since 2009. The Raiders have a 5% probability and the Broncos have a 1% probability.

• At ESPN BET, Kansas Metropolis’s win whole is ready at 11.5 for the second straight season. Final season, the Chiefs went 11-6, ending underneath their win whole for the primary time since 2012, the season earlier than Andy Reid’s arrival.

• After ending with their worst document since 2015, the Chargers employed former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers have the second-easiest schedule in keeping with ESPN Analytics and have a forty five% probability to make the postseason.

• ESPN BET has Los Angeles with a win whole of 8.5 this season. The Chargers haven’t completed over their win whole since 2018 once they gained 12 video games (win whole was 9.5).

• Antonio Pierce turned the Raiders round when he took over in Week 9. The Raiders had been 3-5 and had a -61 level differential once they fired Josh McDaniels. From Week 9 on, they’d the fourth-best level differential (+62).

• The Broncos have missed the postseason in eight straight seasons, the second-longest lively drought within the league (New York Jets, 13).

• In response to ESPN BET, the Broncos have a win whole of 5.5, which is tied with the Carolina Panthers for second-lowest within the league (New England Patriots, 4.5). ESPN Analytics solely has Denver favored in a single sport this season, that being in opposition to the Panthers in Week 8.

Workers bets

Raiders OVER 6.5 wins (-135)

The Raiders ended final season on a robust run after Antonio Pierce took over because the interim coach, profitable 5 of their final 9 video games, together with a press release victory over the Chiefs. The Raiders did not make an enormous splash at quarterback this offseason, however Gardner Minshew has confirmed to be able to main scrappy groups that win a bit extra usually than they lose, and Aidan O’Connell confirmed final season he can adequately produce when referred to as upon.

Most significantly, the Raiders may have the most effective defensive traces in soccer constructed round Defensive Participant of the 12 months candidate Maxx Crosby, free agent acquisition Christian Wilkins and 2023 No. 7 general decide Tyree Wilson.

As well as, the Chargers are coping with well being inquiries to star quarterback Justin Herbert and the Broncos have their very own quarterback questions as properly with rookie Bo Nix underneath middle, so the Raiders could possibly be in place to compete for wins within the non-Chiefs portion of the division. — Andre Snellings