Bengals vs. Chiefs prediction, point spread & pick: 2023 NFL Playoffs

Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce scores a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL Divisional Playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)AP

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The Cincinnati Bengals dispatched the Buffalo Bills 27-10 last weekend, while the Kansas City Chiefs outlasted the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-20. Now, these two teams will meet at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday night for the AFC Championship, which is a rematch from last year’s title game. Joe Burrow and the Bengals outdueled Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in that game, but will they be as successful this time around?

Our experts have the answer to that question with their Bengals vs. Chiefs prediction, so let’s dive into their analysis with odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PREDICTION: Bengals ML (-125 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs prediction: 2023 NFL AFC Championship

The Cincinnati Bengals will visit the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night, with the winner booking a trip to Super Bowl LVII. If you think you’ve seen this matchup before at Arrowhead Stadium, it’s because you have, as these two teams faced off in the same location for the AFC Championship last season. This game marks the fifth straight AFC Championship that’s taken place at the Chiefs’ home field, yet they’ve only gone 2-2 in the previous four contests.

The Bengals will enter this game after taking down the Buffalo Bills 27-10 on the road in the Divisional Round. They truly had control of the contest for all 60 minutes, and it never felt like the Bills had a chance to come back. Cincinnati recorded 172 rushing yards against a Bills defense that allowed just 104.6 yards per game on the ground in the regular season (fifth in the NFL), and if they can replicate this performance in Kansas City, it will boost their chances of winning.

The Chiefs took down the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-20 in the Divisional Round, but the biggest news from that game was QB Patrick Mahomes’ ankle injury. Mahomes left the game after suffering a high ankle sprain in the first quarter, and although he returned after halftime, he didn’t look like his typical self. He helped lead the team to 10 second-half points, but he wasn’t very mobile, which has been a major portion of his game in the playoffs. It’s worth monitoring Mahomes’ status as Sunday approaches, but we anticipate him playing.

Bengals vs. Chiefs point spread, odds & betting lines at DraftKings

The Chiefs are slight +1 underdogs with -110 odds this Sunday, while their money line price is +105 at DraftKings Sportsbook. The Bengals are -1 road favorites with an identical -110 price and carry -125 odds on the money line. The game total (over/under) is 47; the over and under carry a -110 price.

You can risk $125 on Cincinnati’s money line, and if they win, you’ll earn $100 of profits. Anyone that wants to back Kansas City’s money line can wager $100 to earn $105 of winnings if the home team pulls off the upset.


      

Bengals vs. Chiefs expert pick: Bengals ML (-125 at DraftKings)

The Bengals were a dark horse in last year’s NFL playoffs, but this season has shown they’re no fluke. Cincinnati played last week without starting right guard Alex Cappa (ankle) and left tackle Jonah Williams (knee), but their offensive line dominated Buffalo’s defensive forces. We don’t think Cincinnati will get either player back this week, so this will be a major area to watch on Sunday as the Chiefs recorded the second-most sacks in the NFL as a team (55).

Although the Chiefs may pressure QB Joe Burrow more than the Bills, we think the Bengals can outlast the hosts. Cincinnati came into Arrowhead against a healthy Patrick Mahomes last season and mounted a comeback in the second half to win 27-24. These teams also played in Cincinnati earlier this year, and the Bengals also left that game with a 27-24 victory.

We anticipate Mahomes playing Sunday night, but there is no way he will be 100% healthy. If the Bengals were able to take down Kansas City at Arrowhead in last year’s AFC Championship and again in this season’s meeting, we predict they can take down the Chiefs yet again. Therefore, our Bengals vs. Chiefs prediction is for Cincinnati to win outright, which has -125 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Fade or follow our experts’ Bengals vs. Chiefs prediction with this link for just $5 at DraftKings to instantly receive $200 worth of free bets.

How to pick our prediction at DraftKings Sportsbook

Our experts’ Bengals vs. Chiefs prediction is for Cincinnati to win. If you want to fade or follow this pick, you can head over to DraftKings Sportsbook and follow these steps to bet on the AFC Championship:

  • Register for a new DraftKings account through this link
  • Deposit $5 or more
  • Navigate to DraftKings’ NFL betting page
  • Choose to fade or follow our experts’ Bengals vs. Chiefs prediction
  • Input at least $5
  • Click ‘Submit’

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If you follow the steps outlined above to fade or follow our experts’ Bengals vs. Chiefs prediction, you’ll receive $200 worth of free bets instantly. All you have to do is sign up for a new DraftKings account, deposit $5 or more and risk at least $5 on any sporting event. There is no promo code required, which makes this sign-up bonus really easy to claim.

Whether you want to bet on the Chiefs or Bengals this Sunday, don’t forget to join DraftKings Sportsbook to receive $200 worth of free bets instantly.

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