Bucs vs Chiefs MNF Week 9 Predictions | NFL Picks, Best Bets
David Connelly
Host · Writer
We close out Week 9 of the NFL season with an interconference showdown on Monday Night Football. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Arrowhead to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Tampa enters the game short-handed, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined due to injury, while the Chiefs look to improve to 8-0 for the third time in franchise history.
We preview this intriguing matchup on Monday night with a handful of bets we will back among the action.
Bucs vs Chiefs Game Info, Where to Watch and Odds
- Location: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri) | Time: 8:15 PM ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN/ABC
- Spread: Chiefs -9.5, Moneyline: Chiefs -430, Total: 45.5
Full Bucs-Chiefs Analysis Below
Bucs vs Chiefs Best Spread Bet: Bucs +9.5
While Tampa Bay is entering this one without its top two pass-catchers, the team has had a few weeks to adjust and looked at least competent in last week’s narrow loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Baker Mayfield has distributed the ball to his other options well enough to keep this offense afloat. The Bucs are also fourth in the NFL in yards per rush attempt, and it is an area of their game that they could lean upon to help keep this game relatively close. It’s a tall task to go into Arrowhead and be competitive against the Chiefs, but the backdoor will be open in the fourth quarter with such a lofty spread. Take the points and back the Bucs here.
Bucs vs Chiefs Best Total Bet: Under 45.5
The Chiefs are undefeated through eight weeks, but it has not been because Patrick Mahomes and the offense have been lighting it up. The defense has been doing most of the heavy lifting, ranking sixth in the NFL in yards per play allowed. The offense has been pedestrian, at 16th in yards per play, and they have not eclipsed 30 points yet this season. If you believe Tampa Bay may struggle to find the endzone against such a dominant defense without Evans and Godwin, the under is the play.
Bucs Best Player Bet: Cade Otton Over 53.5 Receiving Yards (-110)
Cade Otton has become the focal point of the passing attack since Evans and Godwin have been out. He has earned 20 targets over the past two weeks, which has led to 18 receptions for 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He is typically in a hybrid role that involves more blocking, but the injuries have forced him to become primarily a pass-catcher. That should help him clear this total on Monday night, especially against a Chiefs defense that has a weak spot covering tight ends. Back Otton to go over this number in this one.
Chiefs Best Player Bet: Kareem Hunt Over 17.5 Rushing Attempts (-102)
It’s been made clear in recent games that this is Kareem Hunt’s backfield until Isiah Pacheco returns from injury. Rookie Carson Steele’s lack of ball security has proven him untrustworthy, and Samaje Perine has been mainly assigned to passing downs. It leaves Hunt as the alpha among this running back group, and he could be in for plenty of carries with Kansas City projected as such a heavy favorite. Expect the veteran to have a heavy workload in this game and clear this number in the second half if the Chiefs can put together a healthy lead early on.
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