AFC West Odds, Predictions, Betting Picks 2024: Division Off the Board

Fanduel has officially taken the AFC West division off the board despite the Chiefs technically not clinching as of Week 14. The Broncos and Raiders could theoretically win the division, but it would take a lot to make that happen. The Chiefs’ struggles have us concerned about their Super Bowl LVIII hopes, but bookmakers don’t believe their division crown is in jeopardy. 

We will break down all four teams below, giving you the insights to bet on them confidently over the remaining three weeks.

AFC West Division Winner Odds

Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. Click the odds below to place your bets at FanDuel.

AFC West Picks

Some sportsbooks still have odds for the Raiders and Broncos, but please don’t take those bets. Even if both win out, they still need help knocking the Chiefs out of the top spot. Considering their easy schedule and overall talent level, there is no reason to bet against them winning the AFC West.

AFC West Predictions

Kansas City Chiefs (8-3)

At halftime of their game with the Raiders in Week 12, it seemed like we were watching the collapse of the Kansas City Chiefs. After losing two of their previous three games, they were tied 14-14 with the Raiders, and Vegas had the momentum. However, after halftime, the team came out looking like the reigning Super Bowl champions they are. Travie Kelce stepped up, as did rookie receiver Rashee Rice, leading the Chiefs to a 31-17 statement win.

While we have some concerns about the team’s play over the last month, we feel much better about them after their win against the Raiders. One of the biggest takeaways from the win was Rice's play. The Chiefs receiving corps is bad and has dropped too many passes, but Rice has been consistent. He is catching almost all of his targets, and he stepped up to save the Chiefs last week with 107 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. He forced the Raiders to key in on him, opening room for Kelce to go off. If Rice continues to be a reliable high-volume target, it will significantly boost the offense.

The Chiefs will face the Packers and Bills over the next two weeks, both of whom are fighting for their playoff lives.

Denver Broncos (6-5)

The Broncos have gone from being the worst team in football to a nice story to a serious contender to make the playoffs. They have now won five straight games, all of which came against teams with a record of .500 or better. They aren’t overwhelming opponents but instead do just enough to get the win. We saw that in their 21-20 thrilling win over the Vikings and their 29-12 win over the Browns. The defense led the way in both games, covering for an underwhelming offense.

As well as the Broncos have been playing, we still aren’t sold on them being a playoff team. Their Week 12 win over the Browns is a great example. Their offense scored 12 points off turnovers by a Browns’ offense missing Deshaun Watson. They managed just 294 total yards, thanks to their ground game. Denver beat a sinking Vikings team the week before, winning by just one point. While both games resulted in wins, it does give us pause when wagering on their final six games of the season.

The Broncos will have a pair of road games over the next two weeks that should give us a better idea of where this Denver team is. They will head east to take on the Texans in Week 13 and then head to LA to take on the Chargers. 

Los Angeles Chargers (4-7)

The Chargers have lost three straight games and five of their previous seven. The defense continues to struggle, and the offense is trending in the wrong direction. Their playoff hopes are nearly dashed thanks to losses to the Packers and Ravens over the last two weeks. Their defense was solid in both games, but the offense managed to score a combined 30 points. 

LA’s offensive struggles could not be coming at a worse time. They had been good enough to blow out the Bears and Jets and come within a field goal of upsetting the Lions, but they have been bad over the last two weeks. The lack of a true rusher is putting a lot of pressure on the passing game, which has faltered. Justin Herbert has thrown for over 260 yards in one of his four games but completed just 58.3% of his passes in the 323-yard effort. He has connected well with Keenan Allen (1,117 yards, 7 TDs), who is second in the league in receiving yards. The problem is the next six pass catchers on the team have a combined 1,114 on the season. LA will need someone to step up fast if they want a chance to save their season.

The Chargers’ pass attack will have a couple of test tests in Week 13 and 14, heading across the country to face the Pats before returning home to host a red-hot Broncos team.

Las Vegas Raiders (5-7)

The Raiders were turning things around after firing head coach Josh McDaniels, but they have lost their previous two games. Their 20-13 loss to Miami wasn’t bad, but they were blown out by the Chiefs in Week 12. After looking like the better team in the first half, the Raiders managed just three points in the second half. Vegas did a good job stopping the run but were torched by Patrick Mahomes. They only sacked him once and hit him twice, allowing the 2023 NFL MVP candidate to pick their secondary apart. A banged-up Maxx Crosby is a big reason why they struggled, as he has been covering for many of the unit’s deficiencies. 

Las Vegas’s playoff hopes likely ended after their loss to the Chiefs, but there are a lot of positives to take away from it. The biggest is the play of rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who had his best game of the season by completing 69.7% of his passes. The Raiders also got a big game from running back Josh Jacobs. The back has been a disappointment as the lead back this season, but he posted 110 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs. It was his second 100+ yard performance in three weeks, signaling he may be turning a corner. It won’t help them this season, but Jacobs and O’Connell’s success can help Vegas focus on their defense this offseason.

The Raiders will have their bye this week before hosting the Vikings in Week 14.