NFL Betting: AFC West looks one-sided

San Diego QB Phillip Rivers has tossed 62 touchdown passes the past two years.
If numbers made by oddsmakers are any indication, there won't be much of a race for the top spot in the AFC West standings during the 2010-2011 campaign.

The San Diego Chargers have been installed as prohibitive 1/3 favorites to capture the division for the fifth straight season, with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs next on the list at 6/1. Oakland brings up the rear at 7/1.

San Diego's ‘over/under' win total is set at 11, with only the Indianapolis Colts of the AFC South possessing a higher number (11 ½).

After dropping three of their first five games last season (1-4 ATS), the Chargers reeled off 11 straight victories (7-3-1 ATS) to finish the regular campaign with a 12-3 SU mark. The Chargers then were upset by the New York Jets, 17-14, in an AFC divisional playoff contest as 7 ½-point home favorites.

The high-powered San Diego offense scored 21 points or more in each of its 16 regular season affairs before laying an egg against the Jets in the first round of the playoffs. The ‘over' cashed in five of the Chargers' last six regular season contests, helping the ‘over' finish 10-5-1.

That offense will be missing a key piece this year. For the first time in nine seasons, someone besides LaDainian Tomlinson will be the club's primary ball carrier. However, quarterback Phillip Rivers still has plenty of weapons and big-play receivers in Malcom Floyd, Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson.

Rivers has been one of the NFL's top passers for the past two years and has tossed more touchdowns (62) than any quarterback except Drew Brees (68).

The Denver Broncos were almost the exact opposite of the Chargers last season. The Broncos got off to a sizzling 6-0 start both SU and ATS, then dropped eight of their final 10 games (3-7 ATS) after the bye week to finish 8-8 SU and 9-7 ATS.

Denver became just the third team in NFL history to open the season 6-0 and fail to make the playoffs, and the first not to finish with a winning record.

Oddsmakers have opened the Broncos season win total at eight victories once again, but bettors must lay 120 to win 100 if they wish to wager on the ‘under.'

Though Denver's last five games leaped above the closing total, the ‘under' still managed to go 9-7.

The Kansas City Chiefs limped out of the gate last season by losing their first five games (1-4 ATS) before upsetting Washington in Week 6 as a 6 ½-point road underdog, 14-6

The Chiefs also dropped five of their final six games to finish the campaign with a 4-14 SU and 7-9 ATS ledger. The club now has accumulated just 10 wins during the past three seasons. Nevertheless, oddsmakers have assigned the Chiefs an ‘over/under' season total of 6 ½ wins.

Matt Cassel's first season in Kansas City was far from a success, as the squad scored 16 points or less in 10 of its 16 outings. Despite the lack of offense, the ‘over' went 9-5-2 last season thanks to the defense allowing 34 points or more on five occasions.

If the Oakland Raiders are to win more than five games for the first time since their Super Bowl appearance eight years ago, it's going to be with many of the same players who had key roles in their 5-11 (SU) season in 2009.

To their credit, the Raiders did go 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS after the bye week to finish with an 8-8 spread record. Oakland managed 13 points or less in 13 of its 16 encounters, which helped the ‘under' go 9-7.

Oddsmakers have opened the Raiders with an ‘over/under season total of six wins, but bettors must lay 130 to win 100 if they wish to wager on the ‘over.'