NFL AFC Conference Championship Odds and Top Picks As End of Regular Season Approaches

NFL Week 18 is a good time to assess which teams we believe will win the conference titles. In this blog, we take a look at the American Football Conference where the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals will lead the playoff charge. Check out updated Odds to Win the AFC as well as picks. 

NFL Betting Update: Odds to Win the AFC Conference Championship

2023 NFL AFC Championship

• When: Sunday, Jan. 29 at TBD
• Where: TBD

Updated AFC Championship Odds 

• Kansas City Chiefs +176
• Buffalo Bills +181
• Cincinnati Bengals +400
• Los Angeles Chargers +1100
• Baltimore Ravens +1550
• Jacksonville Jaguars +2300
• Miami Dolphins +3300
• New England Patriots +7500
• Tennessee Titans +8000
• Pittsburgh Steelers +9000

Top Pick: Cincinnati Bengals +400

By the time the playoffs start, Sam Hubbard might be available. If Hubbard is, the Bengals should have no trouble getting by their AFC peers.

Hubbard plays defensive end on the opposite side of Trey Hendrickson. The Bengals’ defense has stepped it up this season while the offensive line has also gotten better. Joe Burrow is playing lights out and Mr. Cool gets to throw to three receivers, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase, who can stretch the field.  

Second Pick: Kansas City Chiefs +176

The Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid combo is almost unstoppable. But Kansas City has a couple of flaws that a team like the Bengals could exploit.

First, the defense doesn’t always play as well as it must. It’s not that the D doesn’t have talent. It’s that it underperforms.

Second, Mahomes doesn’t have a receiver that can stretch the field. Tyreek Hill was that guy. Travis Kelce, as great as he is, can’t do it, which is why the Chiefs play a lot of three tight-end sets.

Reid and Mahomes are so good that even without a stretch the field receiver, the pair can find ways to win. At the odds, though, the Chiefs are a bad play. 

Third Pick: Los Angeles Chargers +1100

Heading into NFL Week 18, the Bolts have won 5-of-6. LAC should make it 6-of-7 because they play the Broncos on Sunday. But although the Chargers can win the conference, we have to question their quality of opponent during the streak.

The loss came versus the Las Vegas Raiders. The wins came against the Cardinals, Dolphins, Titans, Colts, and Rams. None of the teams the Bolts beat will make the playoffs except for, maybe, the Fins, who have lost 5 straight heading into their final regular season game.

Top Underdog Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars +2300

If Jacksonville beats Tennessee, the Jaguars win the AFC South and head to the playoffs. The smart money is on the Jags to do just that.

Trevor Lawrence and his mates are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. The Jaguars have won 4 straight and 5-of-6. Unlike the Bolts, the Jags have beaten a pair of playoff teams during their streak, Dallas and Baltimore.

If the Jags make it, the +2300 odds might look like a gift. Consider backing the Jaguars to win the conference before they take on the rival Titans on Saturday.  

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