Sharp play on Chiefs-Buccaneers causes line move at sportsbook

The Chiefs are consensus 9-point home favorites over the Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football” to remain the NFL’s only unbeaten team.

The betting public is all over Kansas City (7-0, 5-2 ATS) to cover the spread against Tampa Bay (4-4, 4-4 ATS), which has lost and failed to cover its past two games and three of four.

But sharp bettors at the Westgate SuperBook backed the Buccaneers +9 late Monday morning, causing the number to drop to 8½, according to SuperBook vice president of risk Jeff Sherman.

The Chiefs have won five games by seven points or fewer, including last week’s 27-20 win over the Raiders, who scored a late touchdown for a backdoor cover as 9-point underdogs.

Kansas City won its two other games by double digits, beating the Saints 26-13 and the 49ers 28-18.

Tampa Bay, which is without injured star wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, lost 31-26 last week to the Falcons and 41-31 two weeks ago to the Ravens.

MGM Resorts director of trading Lamarr Mitchell said the money on the spread is in favor of the Chiefs by a 2-1 margin, though the ticket count is even.

“We’re going to be Buccaneers fans, no question,” Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said. “The Bucs are so beat up with no Mike Evans and no Chris Godwin.”

Favorites have won 13 of 14 games in NFL Week 9 and are 10-4 against the spread. Kansas City is tied with Baltimore as the biggest favorites of Week 9. The Ravens blew out the Broncos 41-10 on Sunday as 9-point home favorites.

The consensus total is 45½.

“The public is betting the over heavily,” Mitchell said.

Kansas City had gone under in four straight games before going over the total in the win over the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.

The Buccaneers have gone over in five straight games, in which they have averaged 29.4 points.

Both teams are available at -108 at the SuperBook as part of a season-long promotion.

The Chiefs are -450 on the money line, and the Bucs are +375.