Week 17 NFL AFC West: Kansas City At San Diego

Posted by Eric Williams on Thursday,December 29, 2016 5:17, EDT in

NFL News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

Alex Smith and the playoff-bound Kansas City Chiefs will look to give their hopes of winning the AFC West and getting a first round bye a big-time boost by dispatching Philip Rivers and the lowly San Diego Chargers in their Week 17 matchup on Sunday.

The longtime divisional rivals will square off at Qualcomm Stadium at 4:25 PM ET with this contest airing live on CBS. Now, let’s find out if the Chiefs can cover the spread as 5-point road favorites.

Week 17 NFL AFC West: Chiefs (11-4) At Chargers (5-10)

When: Sunday, January 1, 2017 at 4:25 PM ET
Where: Qualcomm Stadium
TV: CBS
Live Stream: CBS Sports Network
NFL Odds: Kansas City -5.5 / Over/Under: 45

Kansas City Chiefs

Alex Smith and the Chiefs have won four of their last five games and looked fantastic in routing Denver 33-10 last weekend while easily covering the spread as a 3.5-point favorite. Not only that, but the Chiefs have also won five consecutive road games coming into their regular season finale.

Kansas City Chiefs is averaging a modest 23.4 points per game to rank 15th in scoring as Smith has completed a stellar 66.6 percent of his passes for 3,238 yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Defensively, Kansas City is limiting the opposition to just 18.9 points per game to rank a fantastic fifth in points allowed.

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers have lost four straight games and three straight at home and come into their finale off a pitiful 20-17 loss to the previously winless Cleveland Browns last weekend while failing to cover the spread as a 4.5-point favorite.

The Bolts are averaging 25.5 points per game to rank 10th in scoring as veteran quarterback Philip Rivers has completed a solid 60.6 percent of his passes for 4,117 yards with 31 touchdowns, but 19 costly interceptions. Defensively, San Diego is allowing 25.7 points per game to rank an uninspiring 28th in points allowed.

Expert ATS Pick & Final Score Prediction

65 percent of public bettors like Kansas City to get the win and ATS cover and I say it’s a no-brainer with the Chiefs looking to win the AFC West if they bet the Chargers and Oakland loses at Denver. That alone is reason enough to bet on the Chiefs to play their starters for at least a half to get the emphatic win and ATS cover against Philip Rivers and the Bolts.

San Diego has clearly given up and brings a discouraging four-game losing streak into their regular season finale. The franchise is rumored to be leaving the San Diego area and head coach Mike Malone is on the hottest of hot seats. Kansas City has plenty of motivation and has been playing excellent football for the better part of the last two and a half months. The Chiefs are 4-1 ATS in their last five games, 5-0 ATS in their last five road games. Kansas City wins and narrowly covers!