NFL Betting Lines – Long Season Ahead For Chiefs
Online sportsbook odds – Chiefs
- Is Brodie Croyle a franchise quarterback?
- Can Larry Johnson rebound from a terrible season?
- Will Chiefs be stronger on the offensive and defensive lines?
At 4-12, the Kansas City Chiefs finished in a tie for the worst record in the AFC West and NFL odds indicate that they aren't expected to win many more games this year.
Their regular season win total is set at six wins.
If you love betting on sports, you probably know the Chiefs hit their lowest point last year and are now back on their way up. Their offensive line can't possibly be as brutal as the unit that couldn't create any running lanes and allowed a league-worst 55 sacks.
The Chiefs spent first-round picks on their offensive line (guard Brandon Albert) and defensive line (tackle Glen Dorsey) but both players were already injured in training camp. While Dorsey's injury isn't serious, Albert sprained his foot and will miss most of training camp, which will directly impact his production this season.
Without Albert, the Chiefs offensive line actually isn't much better than last season's.
The good news is that quarterback Brodie Croyle looks to be growing into a starting NFL quarterback. Larry Johnson is also all the way healthy for the first time in a season and a half.
With Croyle, Johnson, Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez and emerging receiver Dwayne Bowe, the Chiefs have the foundation of their offense. As their offensive line gets better through the season, they will become more effective.
The defensive is also improving, which will likely be evident in NFL betting lines when totals are posted a little lower this year in Chiefs games.
Although the Chiefs traded away the NFL's leading sacker, Jared Allen, they still have a young talented core including Tamba Hali and Dorsey on the defensive line, Derrick Johnson at linebackes, Brandon Flowers at cornberback and Bernard Pollard at safety. On the whole, this is a very young defense but with Herm Edwards as the head coach and Gunther Cunningham as the defensive coordinator, this defense should be the team's strong point. They've also been together for a couple of years so chemistry should be high.
The Chiefs are still in the basement of the AFC West and while they will probably struggle early in the season, they should be a team that finishes strong and shows flashes of optimism for 2009.
Stan Simmons Pick: Under 6
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Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions?
