NFL Odds Week 17: Bengals vs Chiefs Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Week 17 of the NFL season continues with a rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game under much different circumstances as the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Kansas City Chiefs. The betting odds see Kansas City as a seven-point favorite as they try to bounce back from an ugly loss to the Raiders last week. Coverage begins from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sunday, December 31 at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.

Here's everything you need to know about the NFL odds for Week 17: Bengals vs. Chiefs lines, spreads, betting trends and more.

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Cincinnati Bengals vs Kansas City Chiefs Odds

• Opening point spread: Chiefs -8
• Opening moneyline: Chiefs -400/Bengals +300
• Opening total: Over/Under 45 points scored
• Time: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday (CBS)

UPDATE 3:45 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Forty minutes before kickoff, the Chiefs are laying 7 at BetMGM. Kansas City opened -8 last Sunday night, but fell to -7.5/-7 Tuesday, after the upset home loss to the Raiders.

K.C. bottomed out at -6.5 Friday, and the Chiefs have been at various iterations of -7 most of today. Kansas City is taking 60% of spread bets/68% of spread money.

BetMGM's total opened at 45 and peaked at 45.5 multiple times this week. The low point of 44 was reached on Thursday/Friday, and it's now up to 45.5 again. The Under is drawing 53% of bets, while 59% of money is on the Over.

UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET THURSDAY: TwinSpires pegged Kansas City a 7.5-point favorite to open and moved to -7 after the Chiefs' stunning loss to the Raiders. The Bengals are getting the bulk of early spread play, at 62% of tickets/66% of money.

"Bettors seem to have thrown in the towel on K.C. There's sharp and public play on Cincy +7.5," Lucas said.

The total was steady at 44.5 through the first half of the week, then went to 44 today. The Over is seeing 59% of tickets/55% of money.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET TUESDAY: The Chiefs (9-6 SU/7-7-1 ATS) absorbed a stunning Christmas Day loss to the Raiders. Kansas City tumbled 20-14 as a 10.5-point home favorite and is on a 2-4 SU/1-5 ATS purge.

The SuperBook responded this morning with two moves on the Bengals-Chiefs spread. K.C. first dipped from -8 to -7 (-120), then to -7 flat. The total nudged down a half-point to 44.5.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Kansas City (9-5 SU/7-6-1 ATS) beat New England in Week 15 to halt a 1-3 SU slide. But the Chiefs are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven games. K.C. isn't out of Week 16 yet, hosting Las Vegas on Christmas Day.

Cincinnati (8-7 SU/6-7-2 ATS) had its three-game SU run come to a crashing halt at Pittsburgh. The Bengals got blasted 34-11 as 3-point faves.

Kansas City is stable 8-point chalk tonight at The SuperBook.

"Not the Bengals' best effort in Pittsburgh Saturday, I think it's fair to say," Michaelson said. "We'll see about the health of Ja`Marr Chase, but we'll need Cincy in the late-afternoon slot. As it's currently lined, we'll see teasers tied to Kansas City."

Chase, Cincinnati's star wideout, missed the Pittsburgh game with a right shoulder injury.

Click here for Vegas Insider senior reporter Patrick Everson's full NFL Odds Week 17 Report containing spreads, lines, and trends for every NFL matchup.

Bengals vs Chiefs Pick, Prediction

Action Network NFL betting expert Brandon Anderson offers this prediction:

These teams have played four straight field-goal games, and though there's no Burrow or Chase, this isn't exactly the Chiefs of old. Mahomes and crew struggled to show up against even the Patriots and Raiders, and the Chiefs are especially mediocre offensively in the fourth quarter (18th by DVOA), when the Bengals' defense has been at its best.

The Bengals can hang, in part because they can win the early downs. Cincinnati ranks top eight in DVOA on first and second down, where the Chiefs' defense has been mostly average. Also, the Chiefs' offense has been average on early downs where Cincinnati is better. The Chiefs will have a huge advantage on third downs both ways, but it's better to have the early-down advantage and stay ahead of the script.

Chiefs games have been lower scoring at home, and the weather and injuries also suggest a low-scoring game. That makes 7.5 points a lot, and the Chiefs have only covered this line six times all year. Jake Browning had a clunker last week, but the Bengals will come into Arrowhead believing they can win.

Pick: Bengals +7.5

For more NFL picks, check out Action Network's NFL Week 17: How to Bet Every Game & Every Team.

The One Stat to Know About Bengals vs Chiefs

Action Network NFL researcher Evan Abrams offers his top betting stat:

When the Chiefs defense allows more than 20 points this season, KC is 0-4 SU/ATS, against the Lions, Broncos, Eagles and Packers. KC is 9-2 SU, 7-3-1 ATS when their defense allows 20 points or less.

For more NFL betting stats, check out Action Network's NFL Week 17 Betting Trends, Stats, Notes.

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Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson