Monday Night Football Betting Preview
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (-7, 43)
The Kansas City Chiefs reigned supreme in clashes against their AFC West brethren with 12 straight wins before last week's setback in Oakland. The Chiefs look to avenge that defeat and end an overall two-game losing skid on Monday night when they welcome the return of their franchise's all-time leading rusher in Jamaal Charles and the Denver Broncos.
Kansas City has its own dynamic back in rookie Kareem Hunt, who is the only player in NFL history to start his career with seven straight 100-yard scrimmage games. Hunt, who leads the league in yards rushing (717) and is second in yards per carry (5.78), rolled up 117 yards from scrimmage (87 yards rushing, 30 receiving) in a 31-30 loss to the Raiders on Oct. 19. Like the Chiefs, the Broncos have also lost two straight to bring themselves back to the pack in the suddenly congested division heading into Charles' return to Arrowhead Stadium. "I'll always be a Chief ... I have so much history (there)," said the 30-year-old Charles, who needs 44 yards from scrimmage to reach 10,000 for his career. "Lot of sad memories, lot of happy memories. At the end of the day, I'm just going out there to play football."
POWER RANKINGS: Broncos (1) - Chiefs (-4) + home field (-3) = Chiefs -6
LINE HISTORY: The Chiefs opened as 7.5-point home chalk and briefly went down to an even -7 before returning to the opening number. The total hit the betting board at 42 and was quickly bet up to 44 and steadily been fading to the current number of 42.5. View the complete line history here.
INJURY REPORT:
Broncos - TE A.J. Derby (Questionable, Shoulder), DE Derek Wolfe (Questionable, Hand), TE Virgil Green (Questionable, Shoulder), S Will Parks (Questionable, Shoulder), QB Paxton Lynch (Questionable, Shoulder), WR Cody Latimer (Questionable, Knee), OT Menelik Watson (Questionable, Calf), WR Emmanuel Sanders (Questionable, Ankle), WR Isaiah McKenzie (Questionable, Ankle), OT Donald Stephenson (Questionable, Calf), LB Todd Davis (Out Indefinitely, Ankle), LB Shane Ray (Probable, Wrist).
Chiefs - OL Mitch Morse (Probable, Foot), RB Charcandrick West (Probable, Concussion), LB Justin Houston (Questionable, Knee), OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (Questionable, Knee), OL Parker Ehinger (Out Indefinitely, Knee), LB Dadi Nicolas (Questionable, Knee), LB Tamba Hali (Questionable, Knee), DB Steven Nelson (Questionable Week 9, Abdominal).
ABOUT THE BRONCOS (3-3 SU, 2-3-1 ATS, 3-3 O/U):Trevor Siemian became the talk of the town following Denver's disastrous 21-0 setback to the Los Angeles Chargers, and the conversation was anything but positive after the team's first shutout loss in a quarter-century. "I have to play better. It starts with me," the second-year starter said. "... Guys are frankly embarrassed with what we put out there last Sunday. We have to play better. I have to play better. Everybody knows that." C.J. Anderson has been held in check after rushing for at least 81 yards in three of the team's first four games, as he totaled just 61 on the ground over the last two.
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (5-2 SU, 5-2 ATS, 5-2 O/U): Alex Smith is shedding the "game manager" label that has followed him around for the majority of his career in favor of perhaps another title: mid-season NFL MVP candidate. The top overall pick of the 2005 draft eclipsed 300 yards passing and three touchdowns for the third time this season to give him 15 scoring strikes and no interceptions. Trusted target Travis Kelce found the end zone last week versus the Raiders and has reeled in at least one reception in 55 consecutive contests. Kelce gashed the Broncos for season highs in catches (11) and receiving yards (160) with a touchdown in a 33-10 victory last Christmas.
TRENDS:
* Broncos are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
* Chiefs are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
* Under is 8-1 in Broncos last 9 games following a ATS loss.
* Road team is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
* Underdog is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
CONSENSUS: The home fave Chiefs are picking up 64 percent of the action on the spread and Over is grabbing 54 percent of the totals selections.