Game: New York Giants @ Kansas City Chiefs
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Odds: Giants +10, Chiefs -10
Total: 52
Luckily, the Kansas City Chiefs play five of their next six games at home in Arrowhead Stadium. The first of those is tonight against the 2-5 New York Giants. It’s hard to believe that the defending AFC champion Chiefs are just 3-4 after seven games. Kansas City needs to go on a major run if they are going to have any chance at a playoff berth and that run must begin tonight.
The Chiefs cannot overlook the Giants either as they are coming off a 25-3 win over Carolina last week. The New York defense held Panthers QB Sam Darnold to just 111 passing yards and the Giants picked him off twice. The problem for the Giants is on offense where they are banged up. Running back Saquon Barkley is still not 100 percent from an ankle injury he suffered a few weeks ago.
That doesn’t mean the Giants won’t be able to score on the Chiefs. Just about anyone can score on Kansas City’s defense, which is surprisingly bad. In losing to Tennessee last week, the Chiefs gave up fewer than 29 points for just the second time this season. Kansas City lost to the Titans 27-3 and it probably could have been worse.
The Chiefs rank at or near the bottom of several defensive statistical categories. Kansas City is 27th against the run allowing opponents to rush for 128.9 yards per game. The Chiefs are 26th against the pass (275.7 ypg) and rank 28th in total defense surrendering 404.6 yards per game. That isn’t going to win a lot of games in the NFL.
The Giants aren’t all that much better, especially against the pass. New York ranks in the bottom 10 in the league in pass defense and the Giants have given up 14 passing touchdowns. They rank 23rd in total defense allowing 368.7 yards per game. While they gave up just three points last week, the Giants defense allows 25.7 points per game this season.
The Chiefs have not been a strong team for bettors to back against the spread. They are just 2-5 ATS this season and 3-14-1 ATS in their last 18 games. The Giants have had some success in their last 14 road games. They have covered in 11 of those games and they are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games against the Chiefs. However, New York is 0-7 ATS in their last seven games following a game in which they allowed 14 or fewer points. Kansas City has actually done well in Monday night games with a 15-5-1 ATS record in their last 21 Monday night appearances.
Tonight’s total of 52 reflects the idea that virtually anybody can score on the Chiefs. The Giants trend Under. The Under is 11-3-1 in the last 14 Giants games and 9-3-1 in their last 13 games as an underdog. The Under is also 4-0 in Kansas City’s last four Monday night games.