Straight Wager
Bears(Chicago)
Packers(GreenBay) 12/25/05 (17:05 ET)
Bears(Chicago) -6 (-135)
Bought 1.0 point(s)
Straight Wager
Chargers(SanDiego)
Chiefs(KansasCity) 12/24/05 (13:05 ET)
Chiefs(KansasCity) +2 (-105)
Why take the
Chiefs you say?
Kansas City is in a big spot and this game actually means a lot more for the Chiefs that it does San Diego. If the Chiefs win their two games, their wild-card bid is all but over if San Diego beats the Broncos next week. Basically, the Chargers can lose and still win the tiebreaker over Kansas City. But for that scenario to be realistic, the Chiefs need to win this one first. The Chiefs have won 17 straight December home games, last losing in 1995 making this the toughest late season venue for visitors.
It?s almost impossible for San Diego not to have a letdown after last Sunday?s win over then undefeated Indianapolis. It?s week 16 and playoff spots are on the line so if the Chargers do come in with a hangover, they don?t deserve to be going to the playoffs. I highly doubt they will but they certainly won?t be coming in with any more intensity than they had last week as they tapped out. Playing on the road for a second consecutive week this late in the season with so much on the line is extremely difficult.
Kansas City is coming off back-to-back road losses in games that could have really gone either way. The last home game for the Chiefs was a win over the Broncos, giving them a 5-1 record at home including a 3-0 record against teams with a winning record. The only loss came to a then full strength Eagles team. Kansas City is averaging 28.3 ppg at home this season and has not been held to fewer than 26 points in any of its previous six home contests.
The Chargers have been solid on the road this season, going 5-2 but this is the toughest road spot of the season. Against the Colts last weekend, they were coming off a home loss to the Dolphins so a solid effort was very likely. This time around, it will be a lot more difficult. A banged up LaDainian Tomlinson does not help things and while he will likely go, he is questionable with bruised ribs. The Chiefs held Tomlinson to 69 yards on 17 carries in the first meeting.
Play against road underdogs or pick off an upset win as an underdog, with a winning record playing another winning team in the second half of the season. This situation is 80-41 ATS (66.1 percent) since 1983. The average point differential is +10.7 ppg in those 121 games. The Chiefs win another big one at home on Sunday.
But no one's making you listen to me
