NFL AFC Outright Betting Preview

The 2025 NFL season is just days away and the excitement is building as teams prepare their rosters for the upcoming campaign. As per usual in the NFL, 16 teams in the NFC will compete for the NFC Championship and the winner of that match will face the AFC Championship winner in the Super Bowl. After a long and vigorous campaign, teams are stretched to their limits ahead of the AFC Championship and we take a look at the contenders for this year’s crown.

Two of the last three Super Bowls have been won by a team from the AFC in the Kansas City Chiefs. Andy Reid’s team are considered favourites for the title once again, but the likes of the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals will all fancy their chances of stopping them.

Tip 1: Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC Championship @ 13/4 with bet365

The Kansas City Chiefs can never be overlooked in any market under their current regime. Coach Andy Reid is the best in the business at present, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes has won at least 11 games in every year he has been a starter since 2018.

Kansas City won the title last year before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, but they went 15-2 in the regular season. Mahomes has a solid selection of wide receivers to choose from for the first time in a while, and this year could be the last of Travis Kelce’s career. The Chiefs deserve to be favourites for this title unless Reid or Mahomes move on.

Tip 2: Baltimore Ravens to win the AFC Championship @ 17/5 with bet365

The Ravens finished 2024 with a 12-5 record and they got to the Divisional Round in the playoffs before losing 27-25 to the Buffalo Bills. Baltimore’s schedule looks easier on the whole in 2025 and they will once again expect quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry to set the standard. 

The addition of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins should only aid Jackson, who can already target Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews. Coach John Harbaugh has already built an elite secondary defence and their near-miss experience from last year should stand them in good stead this year.

Tip 3: Cincinnati Bengals to win the AFC Championship @ 10/1 with bet365

Even though his team missed out on the playoffs in 2024, Joe Burrow led the NFL in passing yards. “Joe Cool” and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase are arguably the best passing/receiving combo in the NFL. If they stay fit, the Bengals have a chance. That is because Cincinnati have finally tried to address their issues on defence, which were their Achilles heel last year.

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson finally accepted a new contract this month to stay in Ohio, while they drafted in rusher Shemar Stewart and Demetrius Knight in April. Cincinnati still had a 9-8 record despite a slow start, so at 10/1, they look good value to enjoy a decent run at this year’s AFC Championship.