NFL Week 9 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s a quick look at all Week 9 games, played Sunday unless noted.
Philadelphia Eagles at Houston Texans
The Eagles are the NFL’s lone unbeaten team and Houston is one of two teams with just one victory. Philly QB Jalen Hurts boosted his MVP candidacy on Sunday with four TD passes in a rout of Pittsburgh. Struggling Houston second-year QB Davis Mills hasn’t totaled four TD passes in his past three games.
Pick ATS: Houston
Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons
The Chargers are off their bye but had two major injuries in Week 7 as big free-agent signing cornerback JC Jackson is done for the season (he actually hadn’t been very good) and No. 2 wideout Mike Williams will miss multiple weeks. However, Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen should make his return from injury. Atlanta beat Carolina 37-34 in OT on Sunday. The teams combined for three touchdowns in the final 3:06 of regulation.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles (alternate line of -2.5)
Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears
The Bears traded away All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith last week to Baltimore for draft picks and then acquired receiver Chase Claypool for a second-round pick on Tuesday from Pittsburgh. Justin Fields needed help at that position. Miami was a 31-27 winner in Detroit on Sunday. Tyreek Hill had 12 receptions for 188 yards, and Jaylen Waddle had eight catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Hill and Waddle have 1,688 yards receiving combined, setting a Super Bowl era record for two teammates through the first eight games of a season.
Pick ATS: Chicago
Carolina Panthers at Cincinnati Bengals
Short week for Cincinnati as it was routed in Cleveland on Monday to close Week 8, and the Bengals got bad news last week with star receiver Ja’Marr Chase ruled out 4-6 weeks with a hip injury. He was quite obviously missed. Carolina lost 37-34 in OT in Atlanta basically because receiver DJ Moore ripped off his helmet celebrating a TD in the final seconds of regulation and it pushed the winning PAT try back to 48 yards. Carolina missed. That’s how the season has gone.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati (alternate line of -6.5)
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Detroit traded away one of its better offensive players on Tuesday in former Pro Bowl tight end TJ Hockenson to Minnesota for draft picks. That indicates full tank mode for the hugely disappointing team. Green Bay lost a fourth straight game Sunday, 27-17 in Buffalo. It was the first time Aaron Rodgers was a double-digit dog, but he covered the spread.
Pick ATS: Green Bay (alternate line of -3)
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
The Colts gave second-year QB Sam Ehlinger his first NFL start on Sunday and they lost 17-16. Ehlinger was 17-for-23 for 201 yards with no TDs or picks. He did lose a fumble. The Patriots were 22-17 winners at the Jets. The offence struggled again, but New England had three interceptions of Zach Wilson. Bill Belichick passed George Halas for second place on the NFL’s career victories list
Pick ATS: New England
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
Jets QB Zach Wilson had some terrible throws in Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, but Coach Robert Saleh made it clear that he remains the starting QB. Wilson has completed only 54.9% of his passes, with three touchdowns and five interceptions. Buffalo won its fourth in a row, 27-17 over Green Bay. Josh Allen finished 13 of 25 for 218 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions in a rare poor game, but he’s still the MVP favourite.
Pick ATS: New York
Minnesota Vikings at Washington Commanders
Minnesota acquired Pro Bowl tight end TJ Hockenson from Detroit on Tuesday after the team’s top tight end, Irv Smith Jr., went down with an injury in Sunday’s win over Arizona. Washington rallied for a 17-16 win at Indianapolis as backup QB Taylor Heinicke scored from 1-yard out with 22 seconds left. He’ll start again.
Pick ATS: Washington
Las Vegas Raiders at Jacksonville Jaguars
Two of the most disappointing teams in the AFC under first-year head coaches. Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller missed the Raiders’ 24-0 loss in New Orleans on Sunday as the Silver & Black were blanked for the first time in eight years. Jacksonville lost its fifth in a row Sunday, 21-17 in London vs. Denver as Trevor Lawrence continued to struggle.
Pick ATS: Las Vegas
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Seattle goes for the season sweep as it beat Arizona 19-9 in Week 6. Seahawks rookie RB Kenneth Walker III rushed for 97 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown. Cards QB Kyler Murray rushed for 100 yards but struggled through the air. The Seahawks are one of the NFC’s biggest surprises at 5-3 and on a three-game winning streak.
Pick ATS: Arizona
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay’s days as a Super Bowl contender appear clearly over having lost five of six following a 27-22 home defeat vs. Baltimore in Week 8. Tom Brady is on his first three-game skid since 2002. The Rams came out of their bye and were beaten 31-14 at home vs. San Francisco. The Niners’ defence held the Rams to 58 yards and zero points in the second half.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay (alternate line of -2.5)
Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday night game. The Chiefs are off their bye but made a trade during it by acquiring Giants receiver Kadarius Toney, a 2021 first-round selection, for draft picks. Will the Titans have starting QB Ryan Tannehill? He missed Sunday’s win in Houston with an ankle injury, and rookie Malik Willis threw for only 55 yards.
Pick ATS: Tennessee
Baltimore Ravens at New Orleans Saints, Monday
Baltimore improved its defence last week with a trade for All-Pro Bears linebacker Roquan Smith, the NFL’s leading tackler. However, starting receiver Rashod Bateman is going to miss at least a few weeks. The Saints played their best game of the season Sunday in a 24-0 win over the Raiders despite missing two starting receivers and their best cornerback.
Pick ATS: Baltimore (alternate line of -2.5)
