Chiefs vs. Buccaneers: Betting odds, lines and advice
By Byron Smith
We take a look at the betting odds and lines for the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all set to potentially have a “game of the year”. Tom Brady is coming off of a loss (which brings out the best Brady). Patrick Mahomes is playing at the same above elite level that won the Chiefs the big game last season. Travis Kelce is on a historic pace with unstoppable after unstoppable performance. Both teams are also largely healthy.
However, there are plenty of other reasons to be excited for this matchup. It is the fourth, and likely last, Brady-Mahomes game. It’s also another game in the underrated rivalry between Kelce and Rob Gronkowski. Week 12 also features is the two best offensive coaches in the league with Andy Reid and Bruce Arians, and we could be watching a potential Super Bowl LV preview.
With a high profile matchup like this one, there are always a large number of people betting on the game which makes the lines competitive. In order to help our readers get a leg up on the competition, we are breaking down the lines and helping find the best use for your money.
O/U: 56 points
Normally we start this article with the spread and finish with the O/U line. However, due to the offensive talent and capability that both of these teams bring to the field, this field felt too predictable and anti-climactic to end on. The Bucs boast one of the best wide receiving rooms in the league, with the Chiefs boasting the second best. The Bucs have Bruce Arians and Tom Brady leading the offense, while the Chiefs have Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are healthy, the Bucs are healthy, this is an offensive explosion waiting to happen.
Twenty-eight points a piece seems like a guaranteed mark, so betting the over is easy money. Pound the over.
Spread: Chiefs by three
The Bucs have a legitimate claim to make about having the best roster in the league. Between Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Antonio Browns at wide out, Gronkowski at tight end, Tom Brady at quarterback, Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette at running back, Shaq Barrett, Lavonte David, Devin White at linebacker, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh on the defensive line, and Antoine Winfield Jr. holding down the secondary, if every Buc were to play to their potential, there are not many teams that could beat them.
However, one of the teams that could do so is the Chiefs.
With Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins at receiver, Kelce at tight end, Mahomes at quarterback, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Le’Veon Bell at running back, Chris Jones and Frank Clark on the defensive line, Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill at safety, Charvarius Ward and L’Jarius Sneed at cornerback, the Chiefs are similarly loaded. During last year’s playoffs, we saw exactly how well this team plays when everyone is playing peak football.
The Chiefs defense has most definitely not been playing good football recently, while the Chiefs offense is playing at a historic level. The Bucs team has been inconsistent and unpredictable this season, with rough games against the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants in the last four weeks.
Brady has been a surprising and worrying weak point on the Bucs team this season, while Mahomes is the MVP front runner and rewriting the record books almost every week. Mahomes led an impressive and awe-inspiring game-winning drive last week against a decent Oakland defense, while Brady has struggled to finish games against the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams.
I really like the Chiefs to win this game, and three points is just a field goal. I’ll take the Chiefs to win and cover.