The Los Angeles Chargers (+4) are making a trip east to face their AFC West counterpart Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Thursday matchup is scheduled to be broadcast nationally on FOX and the opening kickoff is slated for 8:20 p.m. ET.
Thursday NightBetting Preview: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers
In what could be an AFC playoff preview, Kansas City is projected as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 4 points. The Chargers are also receiving +140 moneyline odds while the Chiefs are -160. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 56 points. It appears that there should be multiple decent live betting opportunities for this matchup.
With the spread opening at -3 and the over/under set initially at 56.5, the betting odds have swayed slightly.
Both of these teams have been profitable this year as the Chargers have gained 3.9 units while the Chiefs are ahead 8.9 units.
The Chargers have gone 10-3 straight up (SU), including 2-2 SU against AFC West opponents. The Chiefs are 11-2 SU overall and 4-0 SU against divisional foes.
The Chargers are coming off a 26-21 victory over Cincinnati last week. Philip Rivers completed 19-of-29 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown. Austin Ekeler (66 rushing yards on 15 attempts, one TD) led the ground attack in the win while Keenan Allen (five receptions, 78 yards, one TD) and Mike Williams (three catches, 45 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Kansas City enters this one after just getting a 27-24 win over Baltimore last week. The defense allowed the Ravens to run for 198 yards on 39 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. Kenneth Dixon was a bright spot in the loss, posting 59 rushing yards and a score on eight attempts for Baltimore. For Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes completed 35-of-53 passes for 377 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Spencer Ware (75 rushing yards on 15 attempts) handled the ground game in the win while Tyreek Hill (eight receptions, 139 yards) and Travis Kelce (seven catches, 77 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack.
Los Angeles has run the ball on 44.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Kansas City has a rush percentage of 40.2 percent. The Chargers have rushed for 122.1 yards per game (including 102.5 per game against West opponents) and have 12 scores via handoffs this year. The Chiefs are logging 118.6 rushing yards per game (117.8 in conference) and have 12 total rush TDs.
The Bolts offense has logged 280.5 yards per contest through the air overall (346.8 per game against conference opposition) and has 29 passing scores so far. The Chiefs have recorded 330.8 pass yards per game (290 against AFC competition) and have 43 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Los Angeles seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has let opponents run for an average of 107.1 yards and pass for 242.1 yards per game. The Kansas City defense has given up 304.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 127.8 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bolts are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.80 to opposing QBs, while the Chiefs have given up a 6.39 ANY/A.
Mahomes has connected on 299-of-444 passes for 4,005 yards, 39 TDs and 11 INTs. Mahomes’ adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 8.85 for the season and 7.63 over his past two games. In the other locker room, Rivers is up to 3,339 passing yards on the year. He’s connected on 258-of-373 attempts with 27 passing touchdowns and only six interceptions. Rivers has an 8.82 ANY/A, including 7.96 over the last two games.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs Free NFL Tip
SU Winner: Chargers, ATS Winner: Chargers, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- The Kansas City defensive unit has created 42 sacks on the year while Los Angeles has just 32.
- Both offenses have lost four fumbles this year.
- The Chargers offense has tallied 10 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Chiefs have accounted for 12 such plays.
- Both defenses have allowed seven pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Los Angeles defense has given up 17 pass plays of 30+ yards while Kansas City has permitted 21 such plays.
- The Los Angeles offense has created 15 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Kansas City has created 12 such runs.
- The Chargers defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Chiefs have given up 10 such runs.
- The Over/Under for Kansas City’s last game going into it was 48.5. The over cashed in the team’s 27-24 victory over Baltimore.
- In its last three matchups, Kansas City is 0-2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- In its last three games, Los Angeles is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Los Angeles has won 10 of its last 11 games SU, with a November 18th defeat to Denver accounting for the only loss over that span.
- Kansas City has won seven of its last eight games SU, with a -3-point loss to Los Angeles on November 19th accounting for the only defeat over that span.
- The O/U for Los Angeles’ last game was set at 48. The under cashed in the team’s 26-21 victory over Cincinnati.
- Los Angeles has averaged 4.5 yards per carry across its last three games and 3.6 over its last two.
- Kansas City has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.7 over its past two.
