Could unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers be home underdogs on NFL odds vs. Kansas City Chiefs in AFC Championship Game?

The Pittsburgh Steelers at 10-0 are off to the best start in their storied history and are the league's lone unbeaten – that could change Wednesday vs. Baltimore but most likely won't – yet still aren't favored to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 55. Pittsburgh is a +260 second-favorite on the William Hill Sportsbook NFL futures odds to take the conference title with Kansas City at +130. That got us thinking: Could there actually be a scenario where an unbeaten Steelers team could be a home underdog to Patrick Mahomes and a one-loss Chiefs team (currently 10-1) in the AFC Championship Game?

Yes, Pittsburgh could be an underdog but would be slightly favored as things stand today via SportsLine oddsmakers and the SportsLine Projection Model.

Of course, the only team to finish with an unbeaten record and win the Super Bowl was the 1972 Miami Dolphins back when there were 14 regular-season games. The 2007 New England Patriots did finish 16-0 in the regular season. They were -13.5 at home vs. Jacksonville in the Divisional Round (failed to cover in a 31-20 victory) and -14 at home vs. the Chargers in the AFC title game (failed to cover in 21-12 victory). Tom Brady & Co. were -12.5 in Super Bowl XLII and the New York Giants pulled off the 17-14 upset.

If you are wondering, Kansas City and Pittsburgh don't play this regular season. The SportsLine Projection Model and SL oddsmakers currently project the Steelers would be around 2-point home favorites vs. the Chiefs for the AFC Championship Game, with the model having Pittsburgh winning that matchup in 52.7 percent of simulations.

That spread could certainly change, whether there's a major injury on either side or perhaps if there's wintry weather. That weather would in theory benefit Pittsburgh by helping to slow Mahomes and that high-powered Chiefs offense. There's also the possibility that heavy action on Kansas City could see it favored by kickoff even if it did open Pittsburgh -2. (Note: William Hill responded to this hypothetical and would list Chiefs -3 right now; hmm, interesting).

The Chiefs didn't have to win a road playoff game last season as the AFC's No. 2 seed because top-seeded Baltimore was upset in the Divisional Round by Tennessee. Mahomes, in fact, has yet to play a true road postseason game as following 2018 the Chiefs hosted the Colts in the Divisional Round (K.C. won 31-13) and then the Patriots in the AFC title game (K.C. lost 37-31 in overtime).

Mahomes is 18-4 straight up in road games as an NFL starter and 13-7-2 against the spread. Kansas City visited Pittsburgh Week 2 of the 2018 season and the Chiefs won 42-37 behind 326 yards and six touchdowns from Mahomes. That Pittsburgh team wasn't nearly as good as the 2020 version, though, and missed the playoffs.

So which teams should you back in Week 13 of the 2020 NFL season? And which Super Bowl contender goes down HARD? ... Join SportsLine right now to see who wins and covers every single NFL game this week, plus get the exact final score, all from the acclaimed model that has returned over $7,800 on its top-rated NFL picks!