NFL Betting Preview: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks

Added on Nov 25, 2010 by Jack Thurman in

NFL

A couple of division leaders go at it on Sunday afternoon as the AFC West leading Kansas City Chiefs head up to the Jet City to take on the NFC West leading Seattle Seahawks. Neither team is exactly dominating their division–the Chiefs are 6-4 while the Seahawks lead the weak NFC West despite a 5-5 record.

Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks
November 28, 2010 1:05 PM Pacific

The Kansas City Chiefs are definitely heading in the right direction, but they’ve not been very good on the road this year. KC is 1-4 SU/2-3 ATS away from home this season and have failed their first two tests as road favorites losing at Denver and Oakland. We’re thinking that the third time will be the charm for this talented young team. Traditonally, the Seahawks have been a good home team that stinks it up when they play on the road. Last year, for example, Seattle was 4-4 at home and 1-7 on the road. This year they’re 3-1 at home and 2-4 on the road. We’ve not sold on this team in the least–they’re fortunate that they play in the worst division in football and 3 of their wins have been against NFC West ‘rivals’. The Seahawks have been awful against good teams for several years now and Pete Carroll’s coaching hasn’t changed that. Since 2008 Seattle is 3-15 SU/5-12 ATS against teams with winning records. And its not like they’ve shown a tendency to improve as the season wears on–in the last three years they’re 1-9 SU/2-7-1 ATS against winning teams in the second half of the season.

Seattle’s dubious status as a division leader is underscored by their awful statistical profile–they’re #28 in total offense, #20 in passing offense, #30 in rushing offense and #27 in scoring offense. Same story on defense–#28 in total defense, #30 in passing defense, #21 in scoring defense. They’re a respectable #13 in rushing defense but that is likely a function of scheduling–they haven’t faced many elite running games this year and their pass coverage has been so vulnerable most opponents attack that without worrying about establishing a running game. If that’s the case, the Chiefs will expose them–KC is #9 in total offense and #1 in rushing offense. Their passing game isn’t exceptional but its secondary to their offensive strategy and Matt Cassell has adapted well to his role within it–he’s got a solid 18-4 TD/INT ratio. Chiefs are just the better team and know that if they’re to move to the next level they need to start winning on the road. They’ll start doing that here.

Bet Kansas City Chiefs -1 over Seattle Seahawks