Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs Predictions, Picks, Odds

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The NFL’s Conference Championship Round will kick things off Sunday mid-afternoon blockbuster AFC showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs. Coverage begins from Arrowhead Stadium at 3:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

SCORE PREDICTION

Chiefs 33, Bengals 23

BEST BETS

Chiefs -7 (-110) at DraftKings

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PREDICTIONS

After finishing last in the AFC North with a record of 4-11-1 SU last year, Cincinnati kept that same ball rolling with another pedestrian start to this season, as the Bengals opened with a relatively lackluster 5-4 SU and 4-5 ATS stretch – which included frustrating SU losses to the Bears and Jets.

Cincinnati has posted excellent offensive numbers since the midway point of the year though, as the Bengals boast averages of 26.9 PPG on 355 YPG across their last ten games – but those values seem slightly inflated, considering Joe Burrow and company tallied 23 PTS or less in half of those matchups (5).

On the other hand, the Chiefs posted a similarly mediocre start to the season, as Kansas City kicked things off with a head-scratching 5-4 SU and 2-7 ATS skid – highlighted by Patrick Mahomes and company generating just 24.5 PPG on 393 YPG across that window.

The Chiefs have absolutely dominated since their opening skid though, considering Kansas City is averaging 33.4 PPG offensively and allowing just 17.6 PPG defensively across their latest 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS run – which includes a pair of 42-point outbursts against the Steelers and Bills to open the playoffs.

I’ll lay the points with Kansas City here, as the Chiefs’ offense has been phenomenal down the homestretch, having racked up 37.3 PPG on 440 YPG across their current 6-1 SU run – likely presenting a steep uphill battle for a Bengals squad that’s averaging just 24.8 PPG across that same timeframe.

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS BETTING ODDS

More Odds | Futures Odds

The Chiefs enter Sunday’s AFC Championship Game favored by roughly a touchdown over the visiting Bengals – marking the sixth time Cincinnati has been an underdog across their last eight games. The total for Sunday’s affair is stationed north of OU 54 at most shops, which marks the highest number set for a Bengals’ game all season.

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS BETTING RESOURCES

Matchup: AFC North vs. AFC West
Date: Sunday, January 30, 2022
Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
TV-Time: CBS - 3:00 p.m. ET

CINCINNATI BENGALS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 12-7
ATS: 12-7
O/U: 8-11
ATS - Away: 7-2

After finishing last in the AFC North with a record of 4-11-1 SU last year, the Bengals bounced back with a surprisingly excellent 2021 campaign, as Cincinnati defied its +2500 preseason divisional odds by winning the AFC North with a sturdy record of 10-7 SU – and solidified that claim to the throne with impressive victories over the Raiders and Titans in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The Bengals’ success has primarily come through defense as of late though, considering Cincinnati has scored 24.8 PPG and allowed just 20.5 PPG across their current 5-2 SU run – but crafting a victory in a low-scoring defensive battle typically isn’t feasible against a Chiefs squad that’s averaging 37.3 PPG across that same timeframe.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 14-5
ATS: 10-9
O/U: 12-7
ATS - Home: 6-5

After stumbling out to a head-scratching 5-4 SU and 2-7 ATS start to the year, the Chiefs quickly flipped the script and looked like the best team in the AFC during the back-half of the year, as Kansas City scored 32.4 PPG and allowed just 17.1 PPG across their 7-1 SU run to close out the regular season.

The Chiefs seemingly built upon that momentum in the first two rounds of the postseason too, considering Kansas City’s offense racked up 42 PPG on 515 YDS across their pair of playoff victories over the Steelers and Bills.

**The Chiefs are 8-2 ATS in their last ten games. (AP)**

INSIDE THE STATS - CINCINNATI BENGALS

Record: 10-7
Division Standing: 1st - AFC North
Points Scored: 460
Points Allowed: 376
PS/G: 27.1 (7th)
PA/G: 22.1 (17th)

INSIDE THE STATS - KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Record: 12-5
Division Standing: 1st - AFC West
Points Scored: 480
Points Allowed: 364
PS/G: 28.2 (4th)
PA/G: 21.4 (8th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

CIN: Joe Burrow - QB (70.4% CMP, 288 YPG, 34 TD, 14 INT)
CIN: Ja'Marr Chase - WR (81 REC, 1,455 YDS, 13 TD)
KNC: Patrick Mahomes - QB (66.3% CMP, 285 YPG, 37 TD, 13 INT)
KNC: Tyreek Hill - WR (111 REC, 1,239 YDS, 9 TD)

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS BETTING CONCLUSION

After a thrilling 19-16 victory over the Titans in the Divisional Round, the Bengals hit the road again for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game as seven-point underdogs against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium – marking the sixth time Cincinnati has been an underdog across the last eight games.

I’ll lay the points with Kansas City here, as Cincinnati’s offense has been far too difficult to trust recently, highlighted by the Bengals tallying 23 PTS or less in five of their last eight matchups (24.5 PPG) – which doesn’t bode well heading into Sunday’s showdown against a Chiefs squad that’s racked up 30+ PTS in six of their last seven events (37.3 PPG).

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS BETTING TRENDS

The Bengals are 4-2 ATS in their last six matchups against Kansas City.
The Chiefs are 8-2 ATS in their last ten games.
The total has gone UNDER in five of the last seven Bengals' games.
The total has gone OVER in seven straight Chiefs' games.
The Bengals are 6-0 ATS in their last six games.
The total has gone UNDER in nine of the last 12 matchups between Kansas City and Cincinnati.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson