An important AFC battle will take place in Week 17 when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals. The Chiefs have a 9-6 record and sit atop the AFC West, but they have lost three of their last four games to hurt their seeding. The Bengals have an 8-7 mark that has them still in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.
Let’s dig into some of the top wagers to consider for this matchup. Also, be sure to check out all of our Week 17 predictions and best bets for the rest of the busy slate.
Bengals vs Chiefs Odds
NFL odds used for this Cincinnati vs Kansas City preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook and are current as of Dec. 27, 2023 at 1:00pm ET.
- Moneyline: Chiefs (-310) • Bengals (+250)
- Spread: Chiefs -7 (-112) • Bengals +7 (-108)
- Total Points: Over 44 (-112) • Under 44 (-108)
- Implied Score: Chiefs 25.5, Bengals 18.5
Bengals vs Chiefs Predictions
Score Pick: Chiefs 27, Bengals 17
The alarming part about the Chiefs’ recent struggles is that two of their three losses have come at home. They could only muster up 14 points against the Raiders last week, and they have scored fewer than 20 points in each of their last three losses.
Part of the reason why the Chiefs have struggled on offense is that tight end Travis Kelce has gone quiet. While he has been targeted 29 times over the last four games, he caught five or fewer passes in three of them.
This is a great matchup for the Chiefs’ offense to get back on track and secure a victory. The Bengals have been torched by opposing tight ends, allowing the most receptions and receiving yards in the league to the position. Look for the Chiefs to ride Kelce to a victory.
Bengals vs Chiefs Best Bets & Props
Chiefs -3.5 1H (-122)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
After stringing together three straight wins, the Bengals lost to the Steelers on the road in Week 16. Their offense struggled, scoring just 11 points. They certainly missed Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder), who is in danger of sitting out his second straight game this week.
Even if Chase were to return, this is not a good matchup for him and the rest of the Bengals’ wide receivers. The Chiefs have given up the fifth-fewest receiving yards to the position in the league. Combine that with how much the Bengals have struggled to slow down tight ends, and let’s make this our NFL bet of the day.
Both Teams Score 15+ (-150)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
The Bengals scoring just 11 points last week was not the norm. Prior to that, they had scored at least 17 points in nine of their previous 10 games. Jake Browning has started each of the last five games, and the Bengals scored at least 27 points in three of them.
The Chiefs shouldn’t have any problems scoring points in this matchup. With the Bengals likely needing to throw a lot to try and keep pace, they should at least put themselves in a favorable position to also score at least 15 points.
Chiefs -7 (-112)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
When the Chiefs win, they usually win in a convincing fashion. Of their nine victories, seven of them have come by at least seven points. In the Bengals seven losses, five of them have come by at least six points. With Kelce having the potential for a big game, look for the Chiefs to cover the spread.
Bengals vs Chiefs Same Game Parlay
Bengals vs Chiefs SGP (+104)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
- Chiefs Over 23.5 (-166)
- Chiefs -6.5 Alternate (-128)
We’re already on the Chiefs to cover the spread. Buying the half point for the Chiefs eliminates a push if they win by a touchdown. We still get plus odds for the parlay, so buying the half-point to take that push out of the equation is appealing.
We’re also building in a bit of a cushion for the Chiefs’ team total. The Bengals’ defense has not played well, giving up at least 24 points in five of their last seven games. During that span, they allowed at least 30 points four times.