Chiefs vs. Buccaneers Point Spread: NFL Week 12 Odds, Prediction
Sunday afternoon could be the final time Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady go head-to-head in a battle among quarterback greats. Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs are entering their Week 12 contest at 9-1 and have their eyes on first in the AFC. Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 7-4, but have dropped two of three and are suddenly vying for a wild-card spot.
Some had this circled as a Super Bowl preview, but it’s currently the Chiefs who look as if they have what it takes to go the distance, barring a statement win from Tampa Bay.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
These interconference clubs have met five teams since 1999, the Bucs winning all five. Although Mahomes and Brady were not involved in any of those clashes, this will be their fourth meeting. Brady’s got the better of his younger counterpart so far, winning in two of their first three battles including the thrilling 2018 AFC Championship.
That said, momentum is on Kansas City’s side. Winners of five straight, the Chiefs enter Sunday as 3.5-point road favourites. Kansas City also enters as the NFL’s highest scoring team (32.1 points per game). Tampa Bay’s not far behind with 29.1 points per game (sixth). Take note, as this game’s over-under total is 56 — the highest this week.
Kansas City Chiefs
If Brady is the best quarterback of all-time, it’s hard to say Mahomes isn’t the best right now. Mahomes is well on his way to his second MVP award, leading the NFL in passing yards with 3,035 and an 85.3 quarterback rating. Oh, and he’s got 27 touchdowns to two interceptions.
It’s then no surprise the Chiefs deploy two pass-catchers in the top 10 in touchdowns in Tyreek Hill (10) and Travis Kelce (7). Both have eclipsed over 55 catches and 750 yards too.
The Chiefs have paired their top offence with a top-10 defence giving up 21.4 points per game this season. If there’s any hint of weakness on this roster, Kansas City’s averaging 244 passing yards against over their past three contests, ranking in the bottom half of the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Monday night versus Los Angeles was the latest bump in the road for the Bucs. Brady tossed for 216 yards in the loss, and only had 42 yards of support on the ground.
The Bucs have fallen out of the top 10 in passing, and now rank in the bottom third in yards per pass attempt at 6.6.
With the way this NFL season’s gone, all signs point to a shootout in Tampa meaning Brady’s offence will need to step it up; whether that’s Antonio Brown finding the end zone for this first time in 2020, or Tampa Bay’s 26th ranked rushing attack breaking the century mark in yards.
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