Chiefs to open title defense with home win over Ravens on Thursday

  • Kansas City is a 3-point home favorite over Baltimore in the AFC Championship Game rematch 
  • Patrick Mahomes is +450 chalk to win his third NFL regular season MVP while reigning two-time winner Lamar Jackson is at +2000 
  • Thursday night’s season opener kicks off from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO at 8:20 pm ET

Looking to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat as Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs host Baltimore on Thursday night. Kansas City boasts a 9-2 record in season openers under Andy Reid while Lamar Jackson is just 1-4 versus Kansas City in his career.

Which AFC powerhouse will come out on top in Week 1? Before we examine the odds, check out the top betting sites for NFL football and the Best Super Bowl 59 Betting Sites 2024.

Chiefs vs Ravens

BetOnline ReviewSpreadMoney LineTotal Points
Baltimore Ravens+3.0 (-119)+130Ov 46.0 (-110)
Kansas City Chiefs-3.0 (-101)-150Un 46.0(-110)

AFC Championship rematch

Kansas City handed the Ravens a 17-10 defeat in last year’s AFC title game, holding Baltimore to just three points in the final three quarters. Baltimore was heavily criticized for only handing it off to their running backs eight times in the loss. Enter free-agent acquisition Derrick Henry, who piled up 1,167 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in 2023 behind Tennessee’s porous offensive line.

The Chiefs lost cornerback L’Jarius Sneed in free agency, but their offense is expected to improve with the addition of University of Texas speedster Xavier Worthy.

Injuries to monitor

Many are projecting Patrick Mahomes to rebound from a mediocre regular season that saw him toss a career-high 14 interceptions. But, the passing game will be without Marquise Brown in week 1 after Hollywood injured his shoulder on the first play of the preseason. Veteran back Samaje Perine is expected to suit up on Thursday, however, after signing with the Chiefs last week.

Baltimore’s longtime offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris passed away on Sunday. The Ravens also have a new defensive coordinator this season after Zach Orr replaced new Seahawks head coach Mike McDaniel.

Kansas Cityto win vs Ravens
★★★★★
-150
Bet now
UNDER 46.0Chiefs vs Ravens
★★★★★
-110
Bet now

Kansas City vs Baltimore

The Chiefs open their title defense as a 3-point home favorite. Not only is KC 9-2 in season openers under Andy Reid. Patrick Mahomes is 4-1 versus Baltimore all-time, with a 15-4 career record in September.

Kansas City vs Baltimore has an over-under of 46 points. The two clubs were first and second in the league in scoring plays allowed per game on defense in 2023, and combined for just 27 points in the AFC Championship Game.

Can Lamar pull through?

Lamar Jackson is coming off his second MVP season, but the pressure is squarely on his shoulders in 2024 following another disappointing playoff exit. To get off to a strong start on Thursday, he’ll have to overcome a Steve Spagnuolo defense that blitzed him 43.5% of the time in the AFC Championship.

Best Bet

While the addition of Derrick Henry is huge, the Ravens’ defense could struggle without Mike McDonald. On a mission to three-peat, we like Mahomes and the Chiefs to cover (-3) on Thursday night with the UNDER 46 points.

Kansas Cityto cover vs Ravens
★★★★★
-3.0
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Steve Starr

Highly analytical and results-driven Sports Betting Expert with over 20 years of experience in sports analytics, betting strategy development, and risk management. Proven track record of leveraging statistical models and market analysis to achieve consistent profitability in sports betting. Adept at using data-driven insights to forecast outcomes, identi...

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