Monday Night Football Upset Alert: KC Chiefs Shock the San Diego Chargers

Monday Night Football kicks off with a doubleheader to start the season, as the San Diego Chargers travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in the late game.

Bet Mania has placed the Chargers as favorites in this meeting of division foes, with the latest line sitting at 5.5 points. This should not come as a surprise to anyone that has watched the recent meetings between these two teams.

Last year the Chargers swept the Chiefs in convincing fashion, winning by a combined score of 80-21. This year things are a bit different for both teams.

The Chargers enter this game as the favorite to win the AFC West but they are not the same team as the one that took the field in 2009.

LaDainian Tomlinson is now playing on the east coast, but the Chargers may actually improve in the running back department, with the arrival of rookie Ryan Matthews. Matthews has looked brilliant in the preseason and will get the bulk of the carries in the backfield, but not all the news for the bolts is good.

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson and left tackle Marcus McNeil will not play, as they are still in the middle of contract disputes. That leaves the Chargers without one of their best offensive weapons and the blindside protector to quarterback Philip Rivers. Recent news out of Chargers headquarters is that linebacker Shawne Merriman may miss the game due to an Achilles injury, and if he does suit up he will not be at full strength.

The Chiefs are looking forward to a great season and they have several reasons to be optimistic. They are a long shot to win the AFC West after finishing in last place a year ago, but have upgraded in several positions to include the coaching staff. They provide a great challenge to the Chargers in this game.

The offense is led by quarterback Matt Cassel who will have Charlie Weis back as offensive coordinator. The Chiefs grabbed Thomas Jones to bolster the running attack, and he will be a great compliment to Jamal Charles out of the backfield. Rookie Dexter McCluster will be a player to watch in this game. McCluster is a playmaker that can play wide receiver or running back and has the potential to break big plays when he gets the ball.

The Chiefs play very well against the spread (ATS) in season openers as they have cashed at a 16-9-2 rate. The Chiefs have one of the better home field advantages in the NFL which explains the 42-21-2 ATS record as home underdogs. The home team is 9-5-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings and the Chiefs plus the points is the way to go in this game.

The Chiefs will start the year off with a victory and upset the Chargers on Monday night football.

Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews, and predictions. Feel Free to contact Matt at [e-mail]

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