Don’t Count the Chargers out just yet in the AFC West Title Race

With the Chargers going down in San Francisco and the Broncos and Raiders continuing to be dumpster fires, it looks to only be a matter of time until the Kansas City Chiefs lock up their seventh straight AFC West title. Currently lined the second chalkiest favorite to win a division, Kansas City continues to be the only team to live up to preseason expectations in this wretched division. Remember, every talking head – including me – expected this division to be one of the more highly competitive throughout the 2022-23 NFL betting season. It could still end up playing out as such, but with only two teams instead of four. That ultimately depends on the switch finally flipping in Tinseltown.

Let’s check out what’s currently being offered up in the divisional futures market at PointsBet Sportsbook and see if anything should be added to the portfolio heading into Week 11.

Bet AFC West Title Odds at PointsBet Sportsbook

Kansas City Chiefs -2000

The success to this point has everything to do with Patrick Mahomes making a run at a second MVP Award. KC’s shot caller has been nothing if not remarkable through the first ten weeks racking up over 2,900 passing yards and a 25:7 TD/INT ratio all the while playing to a 106.1 QB rating; the third highest of his career. If not for leading the league in scoring with an average of 30.0 points per game, the Chiefs would be stuck in the mud as poor a product Steve Spagnuolo has marched onto the field on the other side of the ball.

Be that as it may, it’s been more than enough to get out to a substantial lead atop what’s been an underachieving division. Two games up on the Chargers and already owning the tie breaker over Los Angeles after luck boxing their way to a win in the first meeting back in Week 2, the Kansas City Chiefs could lock down the division if they go into SoFi and sweep the rivalry from the Chargers on Sunday night. I already took the touchdown with the home team regardless of needing four more win to cash my over ticket on the team’s 10.5-game season win total.

Los Angeles Chargers +800

Though Los Angeles has a 20-17 win and 22-16 loss to its credit since I last reported on the team a couple week’s back, I’m still bullish on it making a run. Not just within the division, but for a playoff spot as well. As it stands right now, it’s two-games in back of the Chiefs for the AFC West lead and a single game out of the playoffs. It can dramatically chew into that deficit this Sunday night when the Chiefs come a calling. On top of that, it’s looking like Justin Herbert might get two huge pieces back to the offense with WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams likely to give it a go.

While their presence doesn’t make up for the myriad of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, I think the Chargers can take a page out of the Chiefs book and overcome mostly due to the offense. NFL bettors are yet to see the Chargers’ offense go HAM. I think the possibility of that occurring is right around the corner; if not this Sunday night! Herbert looks to be fully recovered from the rib injury suffered against these same Chiefs after getting around pretty good versus the 49ers last week.

With eight games remaining on the docket, my over 10 wins preseason ticket still has life and I’m entertaining the thought of buying into their 9.5-game adjusted in season wins total at PointsBet as well. The Chargers remaining schedule is juicy with four road games to be played in Arizona, Vegas, Indianapolis, and Denver. Their 8-1 pay-off to win this division will undoubtedly get cut in half should it hold serve this Sunday night. I’d take a beer money stab if not already invested in any Chargers futures.

Denver Broncos +5000

I hit the over of the Broncos 10-game season wins total at the outset of the regular season. Two weeks ago, I suggested hammering the under of their adjusted 7.5-game season wins total to get that money back. I seriously can’t believe this team has only managed three wins to this point of the season. While injuries have played a role, the coaching is the main reason why this squad has grossly failed to live up to expectations. Nathaniel Hackett finds himself situated alongside Josh McDaniels and Kliff Kingsbury to become the next coach fired. Should Denver fall at home to the division rival Raiders on Sunday, it would hardly come as a shock to see upper management pull the chord.

Las Vegas Raiders +15000

I’ve been caught with my pants down trying to middle the Raiders season wins total. Before the season kicked off, I bought under shares at 8.5 with reduced juice. A few weeks back, I bet the over 6.5 adjusted win total offering with heavier juice on the over. They managed to win zero games since last reporting. That means I need Josh McDaniels’ troops to win at least five of their remaining eight games to pull it off. Yeah, it’s not going to happen! Not with three of their next four to be played away from Allegiant Stadium.

What could happen however is the axe falling on a coaching staff that’s done absolutely nothing to improve the roster since its arrival. I knew negative regression would occur in Vegas this year but never expected it to be this bad. The front office did Rich Bisaccia dirty and it’s come back to haunt them!