Chiefs’ Slide Causing Concern for NFL Bettors

As we inch closer to Christmas, the NFL playoff picture is coming closer to focus. San Francisco, Baltimore, Dallas and Philadelphia look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders, while Cleveland has gained a bit of separation in the wild card.

With a busy schedule on tap for Week 15, including a tripleheader on Saturday, the NFL betting market has seen a good deal of movement.

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the biggest shifts in NFL Week 15 betting lines.

The Bengals have surprisingly stayed in the AFC playoff race, a feat that seemed close to impossible once Joe Burrow was lost for the season. Jake Browning has been impressive in absence of the Pro Bowl quarterback, leading the Bengals to back-to-back victories over Indianapolis and Jacksonville. He’s completed 75.5% of his passes for five touchdowns and two interceptions in five games (three starts).

Browning has been on the injury report with an injury to his right throwing arm, but there’s little reason to doubt he’ll be available on Saturday.

Despite the Bengals’ resurgence, not everyone is convinced they’re back. The Bengals opened as 5-point favorites, but as kickoff approaches, the latest NFL lines have moved to Cincinnati -3 after dropping as low as -2.5.

The Steelers are coming off a pair of uninspiring losses to the Cardinals and Colts, raising discussions about the future of head coach Mike Tomlin. While the Colts opened as 3-point favorites following their 20-point loss to Cincinnati, bettors have driven that number down to -1.5.

With both teams at 7-6 and fading in the AFC playoff race, this NFL Week 15 betting line might as well be a pick ’em.

The Chiefs look vulnerable, having lost back-to-back games to drop to 8-5. They’re still a contender so long as Patrick Mahomes stays healthy, but clearly the road to the Super Bowl will go through somewhere other than Kansas City in the AFC this season.

New England has been difficult for bettors to trust, as its 3-10 record ATS is second-worst to only Carolina. But clearly some are reluctant on the Chiefs’ ability to get back to their ways and win handily.

Kansas City opened as 10-point favorites, but given their recent struggles, the NFL betting line has been bet down to -7.5.

C.J. Stroud’s availability is in doubt because of a concussion, raising the possibility that he misses Sunday’s AFC South tilt with Tennessee. Stroud didn’t practice Thursday, four days after getting injured in a loss to the Jets. If he can’t go, the Texans are expected to turn to backup Davis Mills.

Mills has fared well in three career games against Tennessee, completing 63.3% of his passes for 631 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Yet he’s an obvious downgrade from Stroud, the heavy favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Tennessee is sitting steady as a 3-point favorite on the NFL Week 15 betting line, but bettors could see a sharp move in the Titans’ direction if and when Stroud is ruled out.

Winners of five straight, the 49ers have separated themselves as the NFL’s team to beat at 10-3. Accordingly, they’re the biggest favorites on the board in Week 15.

The 49ers beat Arizona 35-16 in Week 4 and shouldn’t have any issues this time around. But bettors, sensing the possibility of a backdoor cover, have whittled this line down from 13.5 to 12.

For NFL picks against the spread, betting analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

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• Slumping Chiefs Poised to Rebound Against Patriots
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