The AFC West was easily the most anticipated division in football heading into the 2022 season, chock full of storylines, superstars and significance.
The Kansas City Chiefs have won the division crown six years in a row, but the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders have all assembled high-quality rosters headlined by stud quarterbacks ready to challenge the status quo.
Sportsbook
At the beginning of the season, online sportsbook Sportsbook has the Chiefs as favorites to win a seventh straight division title at +140 followed closely by the Chargers (+175), Broncos (+375) and Raiders (+800).
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Who Leads AFC West Betting Odds?
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | -190 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +375 |
| Denver Broncos | +600 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | +1200 |
Odds as of October 6th at Sportsbook
Sportsbook
AFC West Odds: Kansas City Chiefs (-190)
The Chiefs lost some talent this offseason, with Tyreek Hill leaving for Miami and veteran defenders Tyrann Mathieu and Melvin Ingram finding new homes. But Kansas City quickly reminded us why they’ve been so good the last few years with a dominant Week 1 win, and it’s the guy at QB.
You can never count out a team with one of the best football players on the planet at quarterback, so the Chiefs will be favored in the majority of their games as long as Patrick Mahomes is at the peak of his powers.
Even with the offseason losses, this is another Super Bowl-or-bust season for the Chiefs that will likely come down to Mahomes and company making big plays at the end of games in January. They are a good bet in AFC West odds at plus money, but we wouldn’t blame you if you opted for more value.
Sportsbook
AFC West Odds: Los Angeles Chargers (+375)
This Chargers squad may be the most hyped of this strong division.
After finishing a disappointing 9-8 and missing the playoffs last season, the Chargers made big improvements to their roster in the form of edge rusher Khalil Mack, corner J.C. Jackson, corner Bryce Callahan, defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day and a first-round pick at offensive guard.
The influx of talent combined with a budding superstar at quarterback in Justin Herbert has fans and bettors alike salivating over the boys in powder blue.
The Chargers may very well have the best defense in the AFC West on paper, which makes them pretty good value in this ultra-competitive division.
Sportsbook
AFC West Odds: Denver Broncos (+600)
The Broncos made maybe the biggest splash of any team this offseason by acquiring QB Russell Wilson from Seattle in a blockbuster trade, and Denver fans were rightfully optimistic about the team’s outlook for this season. And then they lost to those same Seattle Seahawks in a Week 1 stunner.
The Broncos should still be strong this season, if they can overcome the Week 1 setback. Denver finished 7-10 last season despite having one of the worst quarterback situations in the league and many pundits pegged them as “just a QB away” from being a team with legit Super Bowl aspirations.
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Wilson gives the Broncos a huge boost, and high-level talent at receiver, running back, safety and cornerback will keep the Broncos competitive in every game they play this season. But we are a little skeptical that the Broncos will end up with a better record than both KC and LA with a new QB to break in as well as an entirely new coaching staff led by a first-time head coach in Nathaniel Hackett.
Sportsbooks seem to agree, but there’s no denying the potential of this team if everything comes together.
Sportsbook
AFC West Odds: Las Vegas Raiders (+1200)
Despite making the playoffs last season and finishing a very respectable 10-7, the Raiders are now the team most likely to finish fourth in AFC West odds according to Sportsbook.
There are some questions on defense, but the Raiders have one of the premier edge rushing duos in the league now with Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby paired with new addition Chandler Jones.
But the headliner in Vegas is the addition of all-world receiver Davante Adams from Green Bay. Adams was second in the league in receptions last season and third in yards while scoring 11 touchdowns. It’s difficult to see him putting up similarly gaudy numbers with Derek Carr as his QB instead of Aaron Rodgers, but his talent is a huge boost to this roster.
However, even with the new additions, new Raiders coach Josh McDaniels has his work cut out for him. The challenge of the AFC West was on display in Week 1, falling in a close contest to the Chargers. With six tough games against divisional opponents, it’s hard to see the Raiders rising to the top of the West this year.
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Understanding Odds To Win The AFC West
When you take a trip to any NFL sportsbook to make a futures bet – more on that later – you’ll notice the odds laid out the same way they are in the above table. Teams with a minus sign (-) preceding their odds are favorites. The rest are underdogs, which you can see because of the plus sign (+). However, when divisions are tight or there are no clear front-runners, the team with the lowest odds is considered the fave.
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Let’s say you’re on board with the Chiefs and believe they have the best chances of winning the AFC West. If you were to lay down $100, you’d get a payout of $275 – you get your $100 back along with your winnings of $175.
On the other hand, that same $100 on the Raiders would give you a payout of $750 – your original $100 is returned along with your winnings of $650. Bets on underdogs are riskier, which is why you get a bigger reward. Yet, these teams have unfavorable odds for a reason and you shouldn’t bet on them blindly hoping to make some major coin.
Our Odds Calculator will show you how much you’d win based on the odds and amount bet.
What Is An NFL Futures Bet?
To wager on AFC West odds, you’d be making a futures bet. This is a bet made on events that are yet to happen. Technically, all sports betting is made on events that take place in time. However, a bet like this could be made weeks or even months in advance. NFL divisional odds are available as early as the preseason and you can bet on them at any moment before the season ends.
If you see odds you like, you should take them early. Oddsmakers move the odds as players succumb to injuries, coaches are fired and teams surge in the standings.
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