AFC West 2011 Betting Preview

It was a surprise that the Chiefs won the AFC West division title last season, and it was also a surprise that the Chargers didn't even make it to the playoffs. Will those roles be swapped in 2011? Here's a look at how the AFC West shapes up right now.

San Diego Chargers

At 9-7 the Chargers had the best record of any AFC team to miss the playoffs last season, but that's little consolation after they ended up just one game back of the division-winning Chiefs. The Chargers outscored every AFC team but the Patriots last season, but they also only managed to win three of their eight road contests in 2010.

The oddsmakers at Bodog think the Chargers will assert themselves again in 2011, giving them the best Super Bowl odds of any team in their division (11/1). San Diego is also listed at just 5/1 odds to win the AFC Championship Game this season, and their wins OVER/UNDER is at 10. QB Philip Rivers is at 7/1 on the Bodog MVP odds.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs rode the arm of Matt Cassel and the legs of Jamaal Charles to the AFC West title last season, but they were brought back to reality when they were thumped 30-7 at home by the Ravens in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. The Chiefs will be looking to avoid a letdown in 2011, but they'll be in tough to hold off the Chargers.

And at Bodog the Chiefs are farther down the list at 40/1 odds to win the Super Bowl next February, and they've been given 20/1 odds to claim the AFC championship. Kansas City's wins OVER/UNDER for 2011 is set at a modest 7.5, while Cassel (28/1) and Charles (30/1) have both been listed in the middle of Bodog's MVP odds board.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders went from five wins in 2009 to eight wins in 2010 to go from league laughingstock to almost a playoff contender. Running back Darren McFadden returns as the team's top offensive weapon for 2011, and he'll have to help make up for the shortcomings of starting quarterback Jason Campbell if the Raiders are to contend.

At Bodog the oddsmakers don't think the Raiders will contend in 2011, as they're well back at 65/1 to win the Super Bowl next February and at 30/1 to win the AFC Championship Game. Oakland's wins OVER/UNDER for the season is listed at 6.5.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos won just four games in 2010, tied with the Bills and the Bengals for the lowest victory total in the entire AFC. Over the offseason it looked like Tim Tebow would emerge as the starting quarterback in Denver for 2011, but Kyle Orton has taken hold of that job in camp and will be leading the team's offense to start the year.

Denver, though, is near the bottom on the Bodog odds at 80/1 to win the Super Bowl this season, and they're longshots at 40/1 to win the AFC Championship Game. Not much improvement is expected, either, as their wins OVER/UNDER sits at only 5.5.