New York Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs NFL Week 8 MNF Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview
New York Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs NFL Week 8 MNF Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview
This week’s Monday Night Football matchup certainly feels like a must-win for both teams if they are to have any shot at contending for a playoff spot in 2021. The New York Giants are a team that most NFL betting analysts considered to be in an ongoing rebuild before the season began. However, the two-time AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs were certainly expected to contend once again. After opening the year as favorites in the Super Bowl futures market, the Chiefs enter this Week 8 contest a game below .500 and with more questions than answers. The NFL betting odds still have labeled them a hefty favorite at home.
Giants vs. Chiefs Week 8 NFL Date, Location, Where to Watch, and Full Betting Odds
New York Giants (2-5 SU, 3-4 ATS) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (3-4 SU, 2-5 ATS)
Date: Monday, November 1, 2021Start Time: 8:15 PM ESTLocation: Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, MOTV Coverage: ESPN
New York Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs Injury Report
New York Giants Preview
After an ugly defeat two weeks ago, the Giants surprised a lot of people by winning in convincing fashion over the Carolina Panthers as home underdogs last Sunday. Quarterback Daniel Jones bounced back nicely after a three-INT game by throwing for over 200 yards and a score in a turnover-free game. While the Giants’ offense isn’t exactly the most high-powered attack in the league, they have to be excited about the opportunity to face a reeling Kansas City defense on Monday night. Saquon Barkley’s status for this NFL betting matchup remains unclear, but Devontae Booker has filled in admirably during his absence. New York’s offensive injuries have extended to the wide receiver room. Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney and Sterling Shepard all missed last week’s game. If two of the three are able to go on Monday night, the Giants will undoubtedly be thrilled.
Last Sunday saw the Giants play by far their best defensive game of the season to date. The unit had taken a big step back from last year in the early stages of this campaign. After holding the Panthers to a field goal on the scoreboard and just 173 yards of total offense, the Giants are now ranked 19th in adjusted defensive efficiency. There is certainly talent at all three levels, headlined by Leonard Williams, Logan Ryan and James Bradberry. While slowing down the Chiefs’ offense isn’t easy, that task does appear to be easier this season than in years prior.
Kansas City Chiefs Preview
This season has hardly gone according to plan for Andy Reid and the Chiefs. Kansas City comes stumbling into this week’s NFL betting matchup on the heels of a blowout loss to the Tennessee Titans. While losing four of their first seven games was far from ideal, perhaps one silver lining is that the schedule does get easier moving forward. That presumably begins on Monday night and the betting odds suggest as much. Patrick Mahomes has struggled mightily with turnovers this season. The Chiefs are actually tied for dead last in the NFL with a -10 turnover margin. Mahomes also exited in the fourth quarter of last week’s ugly loss but appears to be fine heading into this week’s matchup.
One offensive weapon that the Chiefs will again be without on Monday is running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. After having a solid game against Washington in his absence two weeks ago, Darrel Williams only saw eight total touches last week. He finished with 50 yards, but Kansas City was forced into exclusively airing it out after falling behind big. One of the big questions ahead of this week’s NFL betting contest is whether the K.C. defense can prevent a similar scenario from transpiring. The Chiefs rank 31st in adjusted defensive efficiency and are at or near the bottom of the league in almost every noteworthy defensive statistic.
Giants vs. Chiefs Betting Odds and Line Movement
The following table displays the best Giants vs Chiefs NFL betting odds and lines available in the market.
| Team | ML | Implied Win% | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants | +375 | 21.1% | +9 (-105) | O 52.5 (-105) |
| Chiefs | -417 | 80.7% | -9 (-114) | U 52.5 (-110) |
On the heels of an embarrassing loss, the NFL betting market has moved significantly against the Chiefs ahead of this game. After originally opening as 13-point home favorites, Kansas City is now listed at -9 across the market. Some buyback in the opposite direction has already begun at various Las Vegas shops. A few sportsbooks out west have already adjusted this game back to a 10-point spread.
The total for this contest has also moved off of the opening number of 54. Like the spread, it has shrunk. The consensus over/under is now 52.5 with several Vegas shops listing an even 52 at the time of writing. The move certainly makes sense based on how both the Giants’ defense and Chiefs’ offense performed last week.
Giants vs. Chiefs Betting Picks and Prediction
Admittedly, this game is one of the more difficult Week 8 contests to get a firm read on. Monitoring the injury statuses of the Giants’ offensive skill position players will be key ahead of Monday. For as bad as the Chiefs defense has played, Daniel Jones might struggle to lead scoring drives if he does not have any of his top weapons back.
How the Chiefs’ offense rebounds after last week’s embarrassment is another point of intrigue. Does Andy Reid have the solutions to fix a unit that appears to have lost a bit of its shine? The Giants’ defense has notably improved since the start of the season. If they can force a few turnovers, New York could shock some bettors on Monday night. For now, my best lean is to counter the line move and play over the total. For those looking to play a side, hold out to see if Giants +10.5 becomes available before kickoff.
Giants vs. Chiefs NFL Betting Picks: Over 52.5 (-105)
Henry has had a passion for sports that few can match for as long as he can remember. What started out as a five-year-old taking interest in the New York Jets and their green jerseys has since become a full-fledged career as a writer and sports betting analyst. His coverage primarily includes the NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, and college basketball. In 2020, he ranked among the top-10 most accurate experts ATS in the BettingPros NFL season contest. You can follow Henry’s sports work on Twitter and other social media platforms @HankTimeSports.