With the start of the NFL season just a few weeks away, Canada Sports Betting takes a look at each division in football from a betting perspective to help you with your handicapping of season-long props.
This week, we take a look at the AFC West Division, which has been dominated by the Kansas City Chiefs, who have claimed the division crown in nine consecutive seasons. However, they’ll face some stiff division this year from the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers, who are both favoured to be playoff teams by oddsmakers at online sportsbooks. Bringing up the rear in the division will likely be the Las Vegas Raiders, who are still retooling in an effort to become competitive in the league.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the four teams ready to do battle in the AFC West Division!
Thanks for reading our NFL Divisional Preview Series! Be sure to check out our previews for all eight divisions as they become available!
AFC North – AFC South – AFC East – AFC West – NFC North – NFC South – NFC East – NFC West
Kansas City Chiefs to Win the Super Bowl
Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl Odds: +800
To Win Conference Odds: +300
Division Odds: -110
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-380), No (+280)
Season Win Total: Over 11.5 (+100), Under 11.5 (-130)
2024 Record: 15-2 (lost in Super Bowl)
Key Additions: QB Gardner Minshew, RB Elijah Mitchell, OT Jaylon Moore, CB Kristian Fulton
Key Subtractions: QB Carson Wentz, RB Samaje Perine, WR DeAndre Hopkins, OG Joe Thuney, S Justin Reid
Most Important Game on the Schedule: The Chiefs will surely be looking forward to a Super Bowl rematch in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium after their season opener on the road at the Los Angeles Chargers. If you can recall, the Eagles pulled out a 40-22 victory in Super Bowl LIX, denying the Chiefs a three-peat after Kansas City won the previous Super Bowls.
Prop to Watch: Travis Kelce over 4.5 touchdown receptions: -140 @ bet365. It’s no secret the legendary tight end’s career is winding down, and it’s hard not to imagine him not going out with a bang. Kelce, now 35 years old, has eclipsed this mark in seven of his last eight seasons, with last year being the outlier with just three TD receptions. Kansas City’s receiving corps is deep and productive, which should help open things up over the middle for Kelce even more this season. We’ll bet he’ll be plenty motivated to put up big numbers in 2025 as it he looks to put a stamp on his Hall of Fame career before riding off into the sunset with Taylor Swift.
Potential Breakout Player: No player will see a bigger increase in workload this season than safety Jaden Hicks, who played just 33% of the snaps for the team last year. With Justin Reid leaving in the offseason, Hicks will now be a focal point at the back end of the defence and will hope to build on the 29 tackles and three interceptions he recorded from last season.
Betting Projection: Is this the year the Chiefs finally fall off? Man, it’s hard to bet against them after so many successful seasons and Super Bowl appearances. Every dynasty eventually falls, but it’s just way too hard to determine if this is the year or not. Steer clear of this team’s season-long props (aside from Kelce’s player props) and put your money elsewhere.
Travis Kelce over 4.5 TD receptions
Denver Broncos
Super Bowl Odds: +2200
To Win Conference Odds: +1400
Division Odds: +300
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-130), No (+100)
Season Win Total: Over 9.5 (+100), Under 9.5 (-130)
2024 Record: 10-7 (lost in Wild Card round)
Key Additions: RB J.K. Dobbins, TE Evan Engram, LB Dre Greenlaw, S Talanoa Hufanga
Key Subtractions: QB Zach Wilson, RB Javonte Williams, LB Cody Barton, P Riley Dixon
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Week 17 @ Chiefs. With a season win total of 9.5, the Broncos’ bid to return to the playoffs will likely come down to the wire, and a trip to Arrowhead Stadium in Week 17 will present an incredibly difficult challenge against a divisional rival. If the Broncos fall in that game, their playoff fate may come down to a Week 18 home game against the Chargers.
Prop to Watch: Bo Nix under 3,550.5 passing yards (-110). Nix threw for 3,775 yards in 17 games during his rookie season, but expect the Broncos to feature a more balanced offence this year after bringing in J.K. Dobbins and drafting RJ Harvey at running back. Last year, the Broncos threw the ball 56% of the time, but that number should regress closer to 50% this year with more talent in the backfield.
Potential Breakout Player: RJ Harvey. The rookie should see plenty of touches out of the backfield and has the talent to quickly jump to RB1 on the depth chart over Dobbins. It wouldn’t be surprising if he breaks 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie and quickly sees his +2500 odds for Offensive Rookie of the Year significantly shorten throughout the season.
Betting Projection: Denver’s defence is projected to be downright nasty this season after bulking up with even more significant additions in the offseason, and with a revamped running attack, we could see this team take a giant leap from its 10 wins from last year. Let’s go a step further and back this team to dethrone the Chiefs and win the division at +300.
 | To win Super Bowl | To win division | To make the playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | +800 | -110 | -380 |
| Denver Broncos | +2200 | +300 | -130 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +2800 | +300 | -135 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | +12500 | +1600 | +320 |
Los Angeles Chargers
Super Bowl Odds: +2800
To Win Conference Odds: +1100
Division Odds: +300
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-135), No (+105)
Season Win Total: Over 9.5 (+100), Under 9.5 (-130)
2024 Record: 11-6 (lost in Wild Card round)
Key Additions: QB Trey Lance, RB Najee Harris, TE Tyler Conklin, C Andre James, CB Donte Jackson
Key Subtractions: RB Gus Edwards, RB J.K. Dobbins, TE Hayden Hurst, EDGE Joey Bosa, CB Asante Samuel
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Week 14 vs. Eagles. A win at home against the defending Super Bowl champions could really put this team in a good position heading into an incredibly difficult closing stretch that includes games against the Chiefs, Cowboys, Texans, and Broncos. Ideally, the Chargers want to be a few games over .500 heading into this Week 14 clash to give themselves the best chance at clinching a playoff spot.
Prop to Watch: Justin Herbert over 22.5 passing TDs (+100). Herbert averaged 1.5 touchdown passes per game over his final 11 contests of last season, and if he can stay healthy, he should easily surpass this passing touchdown total in 2025. Additionally, the Chargers only have six games against top-10 pass defences from last season, which should help their cause through the air.
Potential Breakout Player: Omarion Hampton. Selected 22nd overall by the Chargers, is coming off a season in North Carolina that saw him record 1,660 yards rushing with 15 touchdowns in 2024. He’ll get a lot of touches early in the season while veteran running back Najee Harris recovers from an eye injury and has breakout potential written all over him. He’s a solid longshot with around +900 odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Betting Projection: Boasting a strong offence and a solid secondary, back Jim Harbaugh’s squad to make the playoffs at -135 odds.
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
Las Vegas Raiders
Super Bowl Odds: +12500
To Win Conference Odds: +5000
Division Odds: +1600
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (+320), No (-450)
Season Win Total: Over 6.5 (-145), Under 6.5 (+115)
2024 Record: 4-13 (missed playoffs)
Key Additions: QB Geno Smith, RB Raheem Mostert, WR Phillip Dorsett, OG Alex Cappa, CB Eric Stokes, S Jeremy Chinn
Key Subtractions: QB Gardner Minshew, QB Desmond Ridder, RB Alex Mattison
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Week 1 @ Patriots. After a 4-13 season, this team needs this winnable game in New England to help instill some confidence that this season won’t
Prop to Watch: Ashton Jeanty over 1,050.5 rushing yards: -110. Most projection systems have Jeanty somewhere in the ballpark of 1,200 yards rushing with 9-10 touchdowns this season, and he should get plenty of opportunity in a Chip Kelly-run offence. He’s a three-down back with top-five potential and could be in store for an incredible rookie season, especially with Geno Smith now at quarterback to keep defences honest through the air.
Potential Breakout Player: See above.
Betting Projection: A new quarterback and running back should make this offence fun and productive to watch, but the defence could be among the league’s worst for a second consecutive season. Your best betting opportunities may lie on a week-to-week basis, as this team has the potential to have the best record against the over by the time the season concludes.