Public bettors loading up on Chiefs on Thursday Night Football
Thursday Night Football always seems to provide something interesting to discuss, but this week’s matchup between the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and struggling Denver Broncos seems like a blowout waiting to happen.
The Chiefs opened as 10-point home favorites with a total of 51, and the public money has come pouring in on Kansas City, while respected money has pushed the total down, according to bookmakers I spoke with.
“It’s all Chiefs in terms of money and tickets here,” Zachary Lucas, retail sportsbook director at Twin Spires said via text. “Sharp bets on the UNDER, though.”
At DraftKings Sportsbook, 76 percent of the bets and 75 percent of the total dollars wagered were on the Chiefs -10.5 as of Wednesday evening. And while only 52 percent of the bets were on the UNDER at DraftKings (at 47.5 as of Wednesday night), 81 percent of the money was on the UNDER.
“We’re one-sided in favor of Kansas City,” Chuck Esposito, sportsbook director at Station Casinos, said via text. “Ticket count is about 4-1 in favor of the Chiefs. I can see us going to Kansas City -11.”
It will be another opportunity for Patrick Mahomes to bolster his NFL MVP case. Mahomes is currently the slight leader at around +450 odds at sportsbooks.
The Chiefs are 3-2 against the spread, while the Broncos have yet to cover a game this season at 0-4-1 ATS.