When Week 9 is all said and done we will be halfway through the 2025 NFL regular season and this weekend is packed with big games where we will learn a lot about some of these perceived contenders.
The AFC leading Indianapolis Colts will travel to Pittsburgh as the Steelers search for a way to stop Jonathan Taylor.
Minnesota cannot afford to lose any more ground in the NFC North race as they head to Detroit and are forced to reintroduce injured quarterback JJ McCarthy into the lineup.
But the biggest game this weekend is the battle of the perennial heavyweights as Buffalo hosts Kansas City with neither side in position to lose ground in their respective division races.
Check out our game by game breakdown of Week 9 in the NFL below complete with best bets.
Despite this game featuring a pair of two-win teams, this is a must watch game as both sides try to salvage their season after horrific starts.
Both teams managed to pick up valuable wins last weekend but only one felt meaningful, as the Dolphins beat the hapless Falcons while the Ravens rallied to defeat the Bears despite missing their MVP quarterback.
A Week 7 bye wasn’t enough for Lamar Jackson to get back into the lineup although all signs are pointing towards his comeback this weekend.
Whether it is Jackson or Tyler Huntley running the offence, I’ve got my eye on Derrick Henry who has been out of sorts this season.
Miami’s run defence is not good and if there is a chance for a Henry get-right game this is it.
A short week is the perfect opportunity to lean into a tough and physical run game while easing Jackson back into the lineup, which should set up for a big day for Henry.
He has two 100+ yard games already this season and scored twice last week, I’m happy to back him for a big day in a Baltimore victory here.
The competitiveness of this game will come down to which version of the Carolina Panthers opts to make the trip to Lambeau Field.
Maybe not to the level of winning this game but they can absolutely put a scare into the Green Bay Packers, who are coming off a couple of big wins on the road.
The bad version of the Panthers just got run over by the Buffalo Bills and Packers running back Josh Jacobs will be frothing at the mouth with this potential matchup.
After a quiet night in Pittsburgh last weekend, the Jacobs markers are where the value lies here as the Packers are going to lean into their ground game.
Jacobs has scored a touchdown in his last four games and six of Green Bay’s seven while topping 60 yards on four occasions.
The last two weeks could not have gone much worse for the Atlanta Falcons, first getting pummelled by the San Francisco 49ers then losing to the Miami Dolphins last week.
However it’s not all doom and gloom, with quarterback Michael Penix and receiver Drake London potentially returning from injury for this game.
They will need all hands on deck to take on the resurgent Patriots who have won five in a row and will be looking to maintain their lead in the AFC East.
New England should be able to handle their business in this game and I’m happy to back them in large part because it’s hard to see how the Falcons can pull themselves out of their slump quickly enough to spring the upset.
Just when it looked like the Bengals had found the perfect band-aid for their quarterback problem it got ripped off in spectacular fashion last week.
Not only did they suffer the humiliation of losing to the Jets, but Joe Flacco suffered a shoulder injury that has his status in doubt for this game.
It could not come at a worse time for the 3-5 Bengals who are fighting for their season and simply have to win this game.
But nothing they have shown this season suggests that the late rally is coming.
Even if Flacco is healthy enough to play and play well, this is a defence that just gave up 39 to a Jets offence that was getting heckled by their owner the week before.
Right now the Bengals just look like a mess that can’t be cleaned up.
Houston finally recorded a quality win last weekend, knocking off San Francisco on the back of C.J. Stroud’s most productive day in the air all season.
The fact it came on the back of such a horrific showing in Seattle gave some hope that there is some fight in the Texans and they won’t go down lightly.
But even with that performance, it’s tough to justify their favouritism over a Denver side that has been unstoppable in their last five quarters.
Fresh off putting up 33 in the final term against the Giants, they demolished the Cowboys and scored 44.
While Houston has the defence to keep them in this game, Denver is just rolling and I’m not going to take them on until their five game win streak comes to an end.
The 7-1 Colts are going to see their bubble burst at some point but it doesn’t look like it will come this weekend.
Runaway Offensive Player of the Year candidate Jonathan Taylor has been on a tear and this will be a big test against the vaunted Steelers front, but he is about as close to matchup proof as there can be.
He already has 850 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the year and nobody has managed to slow him down in the last month.
The closest a team came to doing that was the Raiders where he only rushed for 66 yards, but did score three times.
While the Steelers have only given up three rushing touchdowns to backs this season, Taylor is on another level and I’ll happily back him to run the Colts to victory here.
The good news for the Titans is that after this week, they get a reprieve from what has been a miserable season with their bye.
Before then though, they have to take on a Chargers team that looked like the best version of themselves in Week 8.
LA’s offence has put up over 400 yards and at least 24 points in their last three games which is not a great sign for the Titans on either side of the ball.
Their highest score this season is 22 and they have managed a combined total of 37 points across their last three defeats.
Not expecting anything other than a comfortable Chargers win on the arm of Justin Herbert.
There is only so much Minnesota’s defence can cover for and they might have hit their breaking point against the LA Chargers last week.
Having to try and shut down that highly productive offence while also knowing the very injured Carson Wentz on the other side of the ball couldn’t do anything saw them implode.
Now they welcome back Week 1 starter JJ McCarthy who hasn’t been healthy for long enough through his career to know if he’s any good or not.
Detroit has had a bye week to prepare for McCarthy and the Vikings, which is not good news for Minnesota.
Especially when the Lions offence has also had a week to freshen up and prepare for this must-win game if they want to win the NFC North and push for home field advantage again.
Amon-Ra St Brown leads the Lions with seven touchdowns this season on 50 catches and he is primed for a big day against a Vikings secondary that has given up six passing touchdowns in their last two games.
Despite the uncertainty over who will be starting at quarterback for San Francisco this weekend, it really doesn’t change much of the analysis and predictions.
Mac Jones has been a more than capable fill in for Brock Purdy and whichever one starts will be put in a good position to succeed here.
Especially against a Giants team that has had its moments but really failed to close out games when given the opportunity.
Not to mention they have to overcome the loss of Cam Skattebo who brought a real energy to their ground game.
San Francisco has been trading wins and losses for the last six weeks and I’ll happily back them to continue that trend with a victory here.
The 2-5 Raiders are getting no favours coming out of their bye week with this the first of three challenging games.
Their lacklustre offence is coming off a historically bad game in Week 7 and should be boosted by the return of Brock Bowers but he can only do so much.
Jacksonville on the other hand has had two weeks to stew over a pair of awful performances losing to the Seahawks at home and the Rams in London.
I’m expecting them to come out firing after their week off and capitalise on a Raiders team that looks awfully dysfunctional.
The Tyler Shough era starts in New Orleans and it will be a trial by fire at SoFi Stadium as they face a dynamic Rams pass rush.
LA gave up a combined 10 points in their back to back road wins over Baltimore and Jacksonville and they are going to have a field day against the rookie.
Meanwhile Matthew Stafford had his best day throwing to Davante Adams in London and he gets his favourite target in Puka Nacua back from an injury.
The Saints defence has been torched through the air and the Rams should have a fun day throwing it all over the field.
Over the last five years this game has gone a long way to determine home field advantage in the AFC but now these heavyweights are just trying to keep pace in a pair of competitive division fights.
Kansas City, in particular Patrick Mahomes has been faultless over the last three weeks with a much needed win over Detroit followed up with big victories over Las Vegas and Washington.
Buffalo on the other hand came out of their bye week with a dominant 40-9 win over Carolina last week showing they were out of their slump.
Backing against either team is a tough case to make and a market well worth staying out of with some value on offer in the touchdown combinations.
James Cook has scored in every Bills win this season and will get some carries on the goal line, and Josh Allen is in position to turn into Superman in the fourth quarter, both guys are capable of scoring multiple times here.
Meanwhile Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice added another touchdown in Washington last week and you can group those three together for a solid play.
The clash between the team representing the city of Washington and the one from the state of Washington gets the primetime treatment this week.
Seattle has the best player on the field in Jaxson Smith-Njigba who has a league leading 117 yards per game average.
In his last three games he has recorded 132, 162 and 123 yards plus a touchdown in each game as well.
Washington has given up three passing touchdowns in their last two games, both defeats at the hands of Dallas and Washington.
Seattle to win this one and JSN to have a big game.
Yeah we know, you’ll be busy with the Melbourne Cup by the time this game is reaching its conclusion but we’ll run through it anyway.
Dallas has the offence to get the job done but their defence remains a liability, which could lead to another high scoring game.
The Cowboys should be able to win this one but both teams are going to put up points.
Dak Prescott is throwing because he simply has to, but it does make him a good bet for passing performance markets, topping 250 yards in six of his eight starts and five games with two or more passing touchdowns.
2024
As we close in on the halfway mark of the NFL season there are plenty of teams with big decisions to make.
Some have already opted to accept their fate and turn their attention to the draft with Carolina and Tennessee trading receivers to contenders like Baltimore and Kansas City.
Week 9 brings us plenty of fascinating games starting on Friday with the Jets hosting the Texans with the former desperately trying to pull out of their tail spin.
Monday’s headline game comes from Minnesota with the Vikings eager to get back in the winner’s circle after last week’s loss in LA.
Then finally on Tuesday, if you need something to watch in between races in the lead up to the Melbourne Cup, we have the Chiefs taking on the Buccaneers.
Check out our full breakdown of Week 9 in the NFL season below.
The NFL head office is really testing the audience’s patience putting the Jets on primetime yet again but even more surprisingly, they are favoured in this game.
Houston’s receiver group has taken a couple of massive blows in the last few weeks with Nico Collins on IR with a hamstring injury and Stefon Diggs done for the year with a torn ACL.
However they still have CJ Stroud and Joe Mixon to keep their offence going and the latter is going to be in for a busy day.
In his five starts this season Mixon has gone for over 100 yards and a touchdown four times and he should be able to take full advantage of a vulnerable Jets run defence.
Especially if the Jets show the same amount of motivation as they have in the last few weeks, with a five game losing streak just about ending their season.
I’ll be taking Houston to win on the back of Mixon with a fairly high degree of confidence.
SGM: Houston to Win, Joe Mixon 80+ Rushing Yards & Anytime Touchdown @ $3.55
One of these teams being 5-3 heading into this game is no surprise, but the other has been a pleasant surprise with how well they have gone so far.
This has the makings of a season defining fortnight for the Broncos though, as well as they have played their next two games are at Baltimore and at Kansas City.
All three of their losses have come by a single score and Baltimore has plenty of tight games on their resume this season as well.
Outside of a blowout win over Buffalo in Week 4, all of their games have been decided by 10 points or less, which makes the line for this one such a big surprise.
The Ravens should bounce back from their surprise loss to Cleveland last week but this will not be a big, dominating victory with the Broncos defence capable of keeping them in this one.
Baltimore to Win by 1-13 Points @ $2.10
If we are just going off last week’s performances, Atlanta should have no problems with Dallas but there is a little bit more to this matchup than meets the eye.
For starters, Dallas has been a lot better on the road (3-1) than at home (0-3) so perhaps they will be happy to heading to Atlanta.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a place where the Falcons have struggled this season going 2-3.
However on the balance of the season, Atlanta has been the better team and it comes on the back of a massive improvement across the offence with Kirk Cousins running the show.
Long story short then, the head to head market just doesn’t offer a clear choice so let’s steer clear on that and instead look for a few player picks.
Bijan Robinson has started to find the end zone with four scores in his last three games, while teammate Kyle Pitts added two to his season tally last week.
Meanwhile on the Cowboys side their major threats on offence is CeeDee Lamb and… actually that’s it, they go as he goes.
Let’s group those three together for a trio of touchdowns in this market.
Bijan Robinson, CeeDee Lamb & Kyle Pitts 3+ Touchdowns Combined @ $2.65
There was one big question to come out of Cleveland’s win over Baltimore last week, was it a sign of major improvement or was it just getting by a divisional rival they know quite well?
We might get an answer this weekend as they host a tough but beatable LA Chargers side.
For starters, the Chargers have really struggled defending the run, giving up over 100 in each of their last five games, including against a Saints side that could not move the ball through the air.
While the Browns offence is lacklustre at best, their defence can still do a job and they look like a decent upset play here, especially if the Chargers are off the pace.
Cleveland to Win @ $2.02
At some point I promise I will cut bait on the Bengals this year, but it won’t be today.
They burned me against the Eagles but surely they can take care of business against this Raiders team.
If not it will make for a very interesting trade deadline in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati to Cover -7 @ $1.87
Already four games clear of the rest of the AFC East, the Bills could pull even further away with a second win over the Dolphins this season.
When they met in Week 2 it was the James Cook show with the running back accounting for three touchdowns as the visitors on the night cruised to a 31-10 win.
However that was not the only story to come out of that game with Tua Tagovailoa suffering a concussion which he only returned from last week.
But he won’t be able to help the Dolphins vulnerable run defence which was better against Arizona last week but still has a whole lot of holes to exploit.
Look for the Bills to lean on Cook as they run to another victory and probably the earliest division title in the NFL.
SGM: Buffalo to Win, James Cook 60+ Rushing Yards & Anytime Touchdown @ $3.20
So far this season, the Titans and Patriots have combined for a 3-12 record, so let’s not pretend like this is some sort of blockbuster.
The one potentially watchable aspect of this matchup, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye, is currently in concussion protocol and at the absolute best is a 50-50 shot to play.
If he starts, New England actually looks like good value as outsiders against a Titans team that looks like it might have given up.
But since it looks like this game will have Jacoby Brissett and Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback, the under is the way to go.
Under 38 Points @ $1.90
Another game that features two teams with a combined three wins, not exactly an NFC South barnburner.
Carolina hosts what is left of the New Orleans Saints, with the visitors now on a six game losing run which can almost totally be attributed to the unavailability of most of their projected starters.
However they will welcome back Derek Carr by all accounts and that should at least stabilise one key position on the roster.
In Week 1 the Saints ran roughshod on the Panthers in the Superdome, winning 47-10 and setting the tone for a miserable Carolina season.
So far this season, the Panthers’ smallest margin of defeat has been 10 points, with five of the other six defeats coming by 18 or more.
In most situations backing the Saints to win by more than a touchdown would be a massive risk but they are playing the Panthers.
New Orleans to Cover -7.5 @ $1.90
The Commanders just keep rolling although they certainly tried their luck against the Bears last week.
It is hard to imagine they will go into this week’s clash with the Giants overconfident though, they only just scraped by their division rival in Week 2 due to an injury to New York’s kicker.
The biggest blow for the home side here is the likely absence of rookie running back Tyrone Tracey who picked up a concussion very late in their loss to Pittsburgh and that is a fair bit of production to replace.
However with Jayden Daniels still battling a rib injury, it is tough to see how Washington wins big.
Washington to Win by 1-13 Points @ $2.20
Should we start taking Arizona a bit more seriously?
That’s now three wins from their last four, all with walk-off field goals and last weekend’s victory in Miami was probably the best of the bunch.
At publish, the market is giving them a bit more support installing them as favourites for this game against Chicago.
You do also have to worry about Chicago’s mindset after last week’s disappointing defeat and whether or not they will be able to bounce back.
Might be the perfect opportunity to give the Cards a bit of respect.
Arizona to Win @ $1.87
At the start of the season, seeing these two teams so far apart in the market would have been a big surprise but based on how they are travelling it makes a bit of sense.
Perhaps Philadelphia is starting to put it all together after their slow start, moving to 5-2 on the back of big wins over New York and Cincinnati in the last two weeks.
Meanwhile Jacksonville has fallen to 2-6 after last week’s defeat against Green Bay and the pressure is ramping up on Doug Pederson.
Two years ago they did start a season 2-6 before rallying to make the playoffs at 9-8, however that began with a win over Vegas in Week 9 and repeating that feat in 2024 seems like a bit of a reach.
Philadelphia to Cover -7.5 @ $1.90
The best show in the NFL heads to Lambeau Field this weekend for this NFC North clash and Detroit can take full control of the division with a win here.
Even when their passing game was not functioning last week, they still managed to put up 52 on the hapless Titans thanks to the rest of their team from the running game, defence and special teams.
Green Bay will provide a stern test however they do have an injury cloud over Jordan Love which makes it tough to have a lot of confidence backing them.
They showed with Malik Willis at the helm they can still put up points but it will not be enough to keep pace with the Lions.
SGM: Detroit to Win, Over 48 Points, David Montgomery & Josh Jacobs Anytime Touchdowns @ $5.83
It’s amazing what a couple of healthy receivers can do to a team’s passing game, but the Rams looked revitalised last week against Minnesota.
Now they have a chance to make it three wins in a row and get their record back to 4-4.
Seattle was thoroughly outclassed by the Bills last week and will have plenty to prove in this divisional battle.
They should get DK Metcalf back from his injury this week which will make a big difference to their offence.
With that in mind, this game really could go either way and the head to head market looks about right, so the over looks like the way to go.
We have both teams that are more than capable of scoring and giving up 24 points so the total does seem to be a bit on the low side.
Over 48.5 Points @ $1.90
In a way, you have to feel bad for the Colts heading into this game.
They have had a rough week off the field with the major story surrounding the benching of second year quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Now they have to take on a Vikings team that has had 10 days to fester over their loss in LA last week and will no doubt be ready to go here.
However the Colts are turning to a guy who can handle a pressurised situation like this in Joe Flacco, but the Vikings defence has made much better quarterbacks look dumb already this year.
They have forced a turnover in in every game this season and multiple turnovers in all five of their wins.
This game could turn on a mistake like that and if one team is more likely to force it, it is the Vikings.
Minnesota to Cover -5.5 @ $1.94
At some point Kansas City is going to lose a game this season and up until a fortnight ago, Tampa looked like a real shot at being the team to hand them that first defeat.
It was another close win for the reigning champions last week although the Mahomes to Kelce combination does appear to be taking off (a couple of months too late).
Tampa is going into the game severely underhanded on offence and Baker Mayfield is doing what he can with the weapons at his disposal, but that might only be enough to get them close.
At publish, the line of nine points seems too high given the Chiefs’ inability to blow teams out and Tampa should be able to cover.
Tampa Bay to Cover +9 @ $1.90
2023
It’s another history making week in the NFL with the league set to play its first regular season game in Germany early Sunday morning!
The European fans will be in for a treat as AFC heavyweights Miami and Kansas City will face off in Frankfurt, in a game that could wind up deciding playoff seeding.
That’s not where all of the action will be in Week 9 though, with Buffalo and Cincinnati playing in another pivotal midseason matchup, plus the NFC East stoush between Dallas and Philadelphia.
Let’s not waste anymore time and get into previewing the 14 games that are on the cards over the next few days.
In a week filled with blockbuster battles, the Thursday Night Football offering is… just a bit underwhelming given the struggles of both teams.
The Steelers offensive struggles have been laid out for all to see this season with major questions surrounding coordinator Matt Canada and the usage of the players.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett has made it clear he will be playing despite suffering a rib injury against Jacksonville last week but he was struggling at full health and on a cold night in the steel city, he will be dealing with a bit of discomfort.
Meanwhile in Tennessee they are coming off their best game of the season, although it did come against an Atlanta defence that at times offers the resistance of wet toilet paper.
Rookie quarterback Will Levis looked like he was very comfortable on the field but this Steelers defence is a different animal and it’s tough to imagine him having the same success with TJ Watt baring down on him.
Even though the forecast is for a clear night in Pittsburgh, a week of rain will have the field nice and slick and should slow down both offences almost as much as the stingy defences will.
Even with one of the lowest points totals on the season on offer, I’m still landing on the under, I just can’t see either team moving the ball enough to get to 20 points.
Under 36.5 Points @ $1.94
In what is shaping up to be the biggest American cultural phenomenon to hit Germany since David Hasselhoff brought his musical stylings to the Bavarian regions, the Chiefs will “host” the Dolphins to kick off a busy day.
Kansas City will be smarting after their loss in Denver last week and the hope is that Patrick Mahomes will have shaken off whatever bug was ailing him in the Rocky Mountains.
As long as he is close to full health, the Chiefs offence should be able to move the ball with some success on the Dolphins defence who have beaten up some bad offences.
Since their Week 1 explosion in Los Angeles, the Dolphins have not been as effective scoring on the road, averaging just over 20 points per game against New England, Buffalo and Philadelphia.
I like the Chiefs defence to do just enough to keep Miami in check and find a way to win a close one.
SGM: Chiefs Win, Mahomes 250+ Pass Yards, Tagovailoa 250+ Pass Yards, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill Anytime Touchdown Scorers @ $8.55
When the Bears announced that they were going to be without Justin Fields yet again when they head to New Orleans this weekend, this became one of the easiest tips to write.
The Saints’ defence is going to be in for a big day against undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent who had a rough outing last week against the LA Chargers.
New Orleans has a much better defence than LA does and that should allow them to take control of this one early.
New Orleans to Cover -8.5 @ $1.90
Surely this is the week that Kyler Murray returns from injury given the Cardinals just traded away fill in starter Josh Dobbs.
It’s either Murray in his first game since tearing his ACL in December 2022, or fifth round rookie Clayton Tune, which presents a very different prospect for the Browns defence.
Assuming Murray gets the go-ahead, his running ability gives him a slightly better chance of escaping the Browns pass rush but this is also his first game in the system of new head coach Jonathan Gannon, so I can’t see him being that comfortable at least early on.
However the Cardinals are a feisty team that finds a way to stay in games and as long as Murray gets the start, I like their chances of keeping it close.
Arizona to Cover +8 @ $1.90
It seems like there is a theme to these early window games with so many quarterbacks dealing with injuries.
In this one it is Matthew Stafford, who hurt his thumb during last week’s blowout loss in Dallas, which presents a real dilemma in terms of how they approach this game.
With a Week 10 bye on the cards they could sit Stafford and give him two full weeks to recuperate but this is a very winnable game against the struggling Packers.
Perhaps Brett Rypien might be able to get the job done but you’d have to approach this game with a fair bit of trepidation.
Jordan Love isn’t hurt in Green Bay, although it would explain some of his play during their four game losing streak where they have scored 60 total points.
If we’re lucky one team makes it to 20.
Under 38.5 Points @ $1.90
There are no quarterback injuries in Atlanta but Arthur Smith has pulled the plug on the Desmond Ridder experience, benching him in favour of Taylor Heinicke.
But there is one big injury in Minnesota with the recently acquired Josh Dobbs set to come in for Kirk Cousins who is gone for the season.
Remarkably both of these 4-4 teams are in the playoff mix, despite their respective struggles however this one boils down to the performance of the replacement quarterbacks.
You cannot discount the experience of Heinicke being with the Falcons all season compared to Dobbs arriving on Wednesday (US time) and that should be enough to see Atlanta win at home.
Atlanta to Win by 1-13 @ $2.10
Easily the pick of the bunch in the 5:00am (AEDT) window, the points total in this one looks incredibly low.
We’ve got two of the more dynamic offences in the league and both have been borderline unstoppable in recent weeks.
When the Ravens win, they score at least 24 points and the same applies to the Seahawks.
I like Baltimore to win but the six point line looks about right, so I’ll take the over with both teams more than capable of finding the end zone.
Over 44 Points @ $1.90
It’s been a few days and I’m still not sure how Houston lost to Carolina, but they have an opportunity to bounce back against the Buccaneers.
Their production has dropped off in the last three games so it is no surprise to see them win just one of those ones.
Defensively Tampa has really struggled coming out of their buy, allowing Detroit, Atlanta and Buffalo to walk all over them and CJ Stroud is more than capable of taking advantage of this secondary.
I like the Bucs to keep it close but I can’t see how they win it short of Houston completely imploding.
Houston to Win by 1-13 Points @ $2.35
The most relieved person in New England right now is Mac Jones, having seen Washington trade away two of their more effective pass rushers.
With his confidence at rock bottom, Jones might be able to find ways to generate some offence against the Commanders and their now undermanned defensive line.
Unfortunately for the Patriots, their defence is also a few players short due to injuries which means Washington will be able to generate a few scoring drives themselves.
There’s not a lot to get excited about here but we might see a few points.
Over 40.5 Points @ $1.87
This one is pretty simple, if the Colts can score 24 points, they are going to win this game.
Even though their defence has been atrocious in the last few weeks, giving up 38 points per game in three straight losses to Jacksonville, Cleveland and New Orleans, they should be able to shut down Carolina.
The Panthers just cannot do anything with the ball and if the Colts get off to a fast start, I can’t see Carolina catching them.
Indianapolis to Cover -2.5 @ $1.83
It’s all set up for Dallas to dispel the “same old Cowboys” narrative this week when they head to Philadelphia.
Coming off a massive win over the LA Rams last week, defeating their NFC East rival and closing the gap in the standings to one game would be a massive statement of intent.
However the last time they had a chance to make a statement win at the home of a rival, they got blasted by the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 by a score of 42-10.
Philadelphia might have one eye on their bye as this is the end of a testing three game stretch following their lone defeat to the Jets in Week 6.
Bottom line here, the Eagles are the better team and have the runs on the board… plus it’s the same old Cowboys.
Philadelphia to Cover -3 @ $1.90
Not only has there been a change in coach in Las Vegas, there has been a change in quarterback.
Josh McDaniels has been fired, Jimmy Garoppolo benched and in their place comes former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce and rookie Aidan O’Connell.
Based on the reactions to McDaniels getting the sack, the Raiders are probably going to be a much happier and more motivated team this week and it does not bode well for the flailing Giants.
Even with Daniel Jones coming back from a neck injury, they still cannot protect anyone and that is going to stifle their offensive productivity.
Take the Raiders to capitalise on the new coach bounce.
Las Vegas to Win @ $1.80
There will be no shortage of mentions of the last regular season game between Cincinnati and Buffalo during the 2023 edition, but let’s just focus on what is going to unfold on the field this Monday.
Joe Burrow is back, if there were any doubts his performance against the 49ers should have put those to bed and he should be able to take advantage of a shorthanded Bills secondary.
In his last three starts, he has thrown for 785 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions while looking like the guy who took the Bengals to the Super Bowl not that long ago.
I’ll back the Bengals to cover with Burrow having a day while finding his go-to guy Ja’Marr Chase in the end zone.
SGM: Cincinnati to Cover -2, Joe Burrow 250+ Pass Yards, Ja’Marr Chase Anytime TD @ $4.01
They might find a way to burn me once again, but I’m going down with the ship on the Chargers.
Beating the Bears last week is not exactly something they should be bragging about but it showed they have the capacity to take care of business in a comfortable manner against a bad opponent.
The Jets on the other hand might be on a three game winning streak but it’s still hard to see how what they are doing is sustainable.
With the AFC changing up every week, the 3-4 Chargers need this game a lot more than the 4-3 Jets, and I have to think this might bring the best out of Justin Herbert.
LA Chargers to Win by 1-13 @ $2.15
2022
One silver lining of the NFL expanding it’s regular season to 18 weeks is that Week 9 gives us a true midway point.
When the Saints and Ravens finish their game, we will have completed 9 weeks and 132 of 272 regular season games.
Despite only 13 games taking place this week, there’s plenty of fascinating clashes to look forward to on a very busy Monday morning.
In the very early window the Jets host the Bills and Washington hosts Kirk Cousins and the Vikings before a pair of intriguing contests with Arizona taking on Seattle as well as Tampa Bay facing the Rams in a desperation derby.
It all rounds out with last season’s top two AFC playoff seeds the Chiefs and Titans facing off in Kansas City.
We’ve got our previews and best bets for every game below so read on and see where we have found the value.
It’s no surprise to see the 7-0 Eagles as a two touchdown favourite over the 1-5-1 Texans and if it all goes to script, Philadelphia should have no troubles routing their overmatched opponent.
This game will come down to the attitude and approach of the Eagles, the only way this game is anything close to competitive is if they treat this game as a glorified practice session and are not up for it on a short week and on the road.
However you can’t back against an Eagles team that is rolling and we’re going to go aggressive for our first up bet in Week 9.
Houston just gave up 219 yards on the ground to Derrick Henry, so you can back a big day for Miles Sanders as the spearhead for one of the NFL’s best rushing attacks.
Pair his big day with a touchdown for AJ Brown and the Eagles to lead at halftime and fulltime and you’ve got a nice potential collect.
SGM: Philadelphia HT/FT, Miles Sanders 100+ Rush Yards & Anytime TD, AJ Brown Anytime TD @ $11.06
Despite a one win differential between these teams in the standings, there is a massive gap between them in terms of on-field performance, especially if you want to give more weight to last week’s efforts.
Buffalo is a near unbackable favourite at $1.16 in the head to head market and the -12.5 line is just enough to give cause for concern after they gave up a backdoor cover to the Packers last week.
There are no questions about the New York Jets defensively with the beginnings of one of the league’s best units from front to back, but the concerns are starting to mount over Zach Wilson.
He threw three of the ugliest interceptions you will see against New England to almost singlehandedly lose the game and kill off a lot of their momentum.
For that reason alone, it will take a leap of faith to expect the Jets to do a whole lot of anything but that is a big line and with a defence that has stifled plenty of opponents so far, they might be able to keep themselves in striking distance, even if they fall a little short.
Back NY Jets to Cover +12.5 @ $1.90
Cincinnati is a lot better than their diabolical showing in Cleveland, we all know that but plenty of punters will have had their faith shaken after seeing Joe Burrow running for his life.
Losing Ja’Marr Chase shook them up and it showed in Week 8, but they should be able to bounce back against a Panthers side that is becoming increasingly frisky since firing Matt Rhule.
However the Panthers cannot get out of their own way no matter how hard they try and always seem to make a mistake at the worst possible time.
Combine that with a hot and cold defence that just cannot carry the team and you have to take on the Panthers here.
It might not be a big win but right now the name of the game for Cincinnati is to survive.
Back Cincinnati to Win by 1-13 @ $2.15
Detroit’s bubble has well and truly burst and if Green Bay is going to have a get-right game, this is the week to have it.
Considering the Lions have given up at least 24 points in every game so far, Aaron Rodgers should be able to move the ball and score some points (for once).
However there is a little bit of trepidation backing a Green Bay team that has lost four straight and looked utterly disinterested at times.
Throughout his career, Rodgers has normally found a way to pick up a win against Detroit so that’s the angle to take when finding a bet for this one but it just does not seem like it will be a blowout.
Back Green Bay to Win by 1-13 @ $2.60
At 4-4 New England simply has to win this game against a Colts team in transition.
Mac Jones and the offence were quite lacklustre against a stout Jets defence last week and it’s tough to see them finding a whole lot of production this week either.
The good news though is their defence on their day can slow down any offence and they should not encounter too much resistance with the Sam Ehlinger lead Colts.
Between Matt Ryan’s seven starts and Ehlinger’s one, the Colts have been held to 20 points or less on seven occasions and they appear to be trending in the wrong direction.
Look for New England to ride their running game and defence to their first winning record of the season.
SGM: New England to Win and Under 40 Points @ $2.73
Get ready for another shootout involving the Atlanta Falcons who are coming off a massive overtime win over the Carolina Panthers.
Remarkably at 4-4, the Falcons are somehow in sole possession of first place in the NFC South despite their preseason win total being set at 4.5.
Things have not gone to plan for the Chargers in 2022 with plenty of injuries forcing the offence to find band-aid solutions to get them to their Week 8 bye.
Having had a week off to heal and taking on a leaky Falcons defence, this could be the course correction the Chargers need to keep pace with the division leading Chiefs.
Even though the Chargers are the better team, it’s tough to ignore how competitive the Falcons have been and with the points number below 50, the over is the play to take.
Back Over 49.5 Points @ $1.94
Up until last week, backing the Raiders in this game seemed like the least objectionable option however after seeing them get shut out by the Saints, it doesn’t exactly reinforce the confidence in the team.
At 2-5 the honeymoon period for Josh McDaniels has been over for a few weeks not but the good news is the Jaguars cannot seem to stop shooting themselves in the foot either.
Thanks to a couple of ugly turnovers the Jags are also coming off a bad loss in London, which negates the travel issue for the Raiders as well.
If you wanted to stay away from this game entirely nobody would blame you considering it could be a friends and family broadcast, but the Raiders seem (slightly) more likely to find a way to bounce back.
Back Las Vegas to Win @ $1.90
That’s two weeks in a row the Bears offence has shown signs of life, it’s just a shame their defence was absolutely shredded by the Cowboys last week.
For Miami, they should be looking at what Dallas did and licking their lips at the prospect of putting up plenty of points in Soldier Field.
They just had no answer for the Cowboys running game, making it the third time this season they have allowed over 200 on the ground to an opponent.
Those numbers might force the Dolphins to abandon their “pass at all costs” mantra but coming off their best offensive day since Week 2, you have to like Miami’s chances of stretching the Bears defence to breaking point.
Back Miami to Cover -5 @ $1.90
You could be forgiven for thinking that Washington had a much worse record than they actually do but at 4-4, it has not been a poor season by any means.
It also helps that they got two pieces of perfect news during the week with Chase Young returning from his ACL surgery and owner Dan Snyder reportedly preparing to sell the franchise.
However they will encounter their former quarterback in Kirk Cousins and the red hot Minnesota Vikings who have accumulated six wins already this season.
During the week they added tight end TJ Hockensen to add another dimension to an already diverse offence and it just makes them that little bit more dangerous as they seek to extend a five game winning streak.
Minnesota just looks like it will have too much offence for Washington to handle and if this is a race to 20 points, only one team is going to win that one.
Back Minnesota to Cover -3.5 @ $1.94
“It’s amazing what you can accomplish when nobody cares who gets the credit.” Those are the words of Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett and quite frankly, it is amazing what the Seahawks have accomplished so far this season.
Whether or not it was an incredibly thinly veiled shot at Russell Wilson (you can see why most would have thought it was), Seattle has a great chance to move to 6-3, extend their stay on top of the NFC West and pick up another win over a division rival.
They took care of the Cardinals in Seattle in Week 5 and thanks to the surprisingly impressive play of Geno Smith, they are actually a fun team to watch.
At 3-5 it’s tough to understand why the Cardinals are favoured even though it is in their home stadium.
When playing in this year’s Super Bowl venue, the Cardinals have gone a measly 1-3 which is a big reason why they are two games back from the division lead.
There may not be many more weeks Seattle is an underdog if they keep playing like this so take the value on offer.
Back Seattle to Win @ $2.05
When the schedule was released, this was a “clear your calendar and commit all three hours to this one” game but now all you can say is “what else is on?”
Few would have expected the combined record of the last two Super Bowl winners to be 6-9 heading into this game, especially when one of those teams is lead by Tom Brady.
However both have looked incredibly disjointed and at least we can take solace in the fact someone has to find a way to win this game.
That and the fact both teams are still more than capable of flicking the switch and going on a run in the second half of the season, but they’ll need to get themselves on the right track now.
While not serious enough to rule him out of this game (at the time of publish), the injury suffered by Cooper Kupp last week appears to be significant enough to limit him here and that is enough to swing my tip to Tampa Bay.
After all, they still have Tom Brady whose play has been way down the list of the Buc’s problems.
Back Tampa Bay to Cover -3 @ $1.94
At the time of writing, the status of Ryan Tannehill remains very much in question for this game so how you approach it from a betting perspective depends on what you want to interpret from reports so far.
Admittedly he is at best a supporting cast member in the Titans offence with Derrick Henry coming off a 200 yard day against the Texans, but having a quarterback the coaching staff trusts to make a throw when needed makes a huge difference.
They will need that offence rolling one way or another to keep pace with a Chiefs team that appears to be coming into form.
Kansas City’s run defence has been somewhat suspect with the Raiders pushing them all the way in Week 5 with a heavy dose of Josh Jacobs while Buffalo mixed in steady contributions on the ground from Devin Singletary in the Bills Week 6 win.
Derrick Henry is averaging league leading 107.9 rushing yards per game and if he can get going early, he can keep the ball away from Patrick Mahomes and give the Titans a shot in this one.
They might not win but they do have a pretty clear path to keeping things close with Henry.
Back Tennessee to Cover +12.5 @ $1.90
Still very much in the playoff race, the Superdome should be rocking on Monday Night Football for their Saints, fresh off a shutout win over the Raiders.
Their defence will be in for a stiff test this week though as they try and find an answer to Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens who will have had an 11 day break between games.
That extra rest could prove pivotal here as the Ravens have the potential to turn this into a track meet and employ a similar strategy that saw them get the better of Tampa Bay in Week 8.
Look for the Ravens to get the Saints defence chasing from sideline to sideline early before hammering them up the middle with their running game.
Six of Baltimore’s eight games have been decided by a single score margin with the Ravens coming out on top of those games more often than not.
New Orleans will find a way to keep it close but the Ravens are finding ways to finish the job and that’s the play for this one.
Back Baltimore to Win by 1-13 Points @ $2.55
2021
At the end of Week 9, we will be halfway through the 2021 NFL regular season with 136 games played and a slowly evolving idea on who can and cannot win the Super Bowl.
Some of those perceptions have taken a real blow in the last seven days with injuries, trades, wins and losses forcing everyone to be flexible with their analysis.
14 games are on the schedule this weekend with the huge clash between the Packers and Chiefs headlining the action.
Arizona will be desperate to bounce back from its first loss of the season as they have a tough assignment coming in the shape of the 49ers.
Tennessee will be out to prove they are more than a one man team against the Rams on Sunday Night Football as the AFC is still searching for a true favourite.
We’re previewing every game below so read on and see who we are backing.
As much fun as the Jets win against the Bengals last week was, it cannot be seen as a sign of things to come.
Mike White appears to be at least something resembling a serviceable fill in option at quarterback but there is no way you should count on him to throw for 400 yards every week, especially on this Colts defence.
While the yardage and points totals make for great reading, you can’t ignore the two interceptions he threw.
Indianapolis has only allowed 400 passing yards once this season to Lamar Jackson and have forced a turnover in every game thus far, registering multiple ones in six of their eight games.
When the Colts have the ball, expect a heavy dose of Jonathan Taylor, even if it is just to keep the ball out of the hands of Carson Wentz.
Look for Taylor to have another productive day on the ground and I’ll back him to run the Colts to victory on the short week.
SGM: Colts to Win, Jonathan Taylor 90+ Total Rush Yards and Anytime TD @ $2.72
The final score might have been slightly flattering towards Buffalo but they got their job done on the back of a very impressive defensive effort against Miami.
It was a low scoring, grind of a divisional game and their offence struggled to get going all afternoon, but that defence put in another impressive effort.
Based on how that unit is going, you have to like their chances of stifling a Jaguars offence that has failed to score more than 23 points in any of their games this season.
In their loss at Seattle, they had their worst offensive output of the season to date for their fifth under from seven starts.
A 14.5 point line is just a little bit too high to take the Bills at so instead I’ll settle on a Buffalo victory and the under.
SGM: Buffalo to Win & Under 49 Points @ $2.06
Just when it looked like Atlanta was getting something going, they produce a flat performance against Carolina to drop to 3-4 on the season.
While Calvin Ridley’s absence due to mental health issues will be a blow to the receiving group, this offence should be good enough to cover for him until he is ready to return.
Expect plenty of work for Kyle Pitts, Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Davis as the Falcons look for their first win over the Saints since November 2019.
They have a great chance to get after New Orleans in this game with Sean Payton turning to Trevor Siemian, his third choice quarterback.
While Payton is going to coach up an impressive defensive scheme, I’ll take the Falcons to keep it close.
Back Atlanta to Cover +6 @ $1.90
If you are just going off Week 8, you might think this is shaping up as a bit of a toilet bowl game.
After spending the week as the flavour of the AFC the Bengals flopped against the Jets to kill off plenty of multis while the Browns lost their third game in four weeks to drop to 4-4.
Cincinnati at least has a healthier roster and the difference makers are getting the job done while the Browns just cannot get anything going with a decimated roster.
For that reason I will side with the home Bengals as the Browns cannot score more than 20 points at the moment.
Back Cincinnati to Cover -2.5 @ $1.90
No Dak, no worries for Dallas as their quarterback failed to overcome a calf injury.
Cooper Rush was good enough in Minnesota to steer them to a dramatic victory but all signs are pointing towards Prescott coming back for this game and it should have you feeling very good about taking the Cowboys here.
They will turn this game into a shootout and Denver will not be able to keep up having scored less than 20 points in four of their last five games.
As long as Prescott suits up, 10 points is plenty for the Cowboys to cover.
Back Dallas to Cover -10 @ $1.98
Week 1 was as good as it got for both of these teams, but the good news is one losing streak will come to an end here.
After failing to work out a trade for embattled Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Dolphins will have to try and rebuild the shattered confidence of Tua Tagovailoa, starting with this Texans game.
Unfortunately for punters, a loss might actually be a better result for both teams out of this game as they try and stay in the mix for the first overall pick.
There is nothing to like out of the head to head market as both teams are firmly in “back against at all costs” territory.
Look into the player markets for a touchdown scorer and Houston has given up a score to a touchdown in six of their eight games.
Back Mike Gesicki Anytime Touchdown Scorer
If there is one silver lining to take from the Raiders enduring a nightmare season off the field, it’s that the players and staff who are on the team have remarkable mental toughness.
They will need to bear down again with the drama surrounding former receiver Henry Ruggs and put all of their focus on this game with the New York Giants.
In a vacuum they should comfortably handle them, even at the Meadowlands, but you have to have a little bit of concern over whether or not they have reached their breaking point.
The Giants can be a tough out on their day, having belted Carolina and put a proper scare into Kansas City in the last two weeks.
Coming into this game on short rest off a draining game might be asking a bit much of the Giants and I’ll take the Raiders to put the last week behind them with a hard fought victory.
Back Las Vegas to Win @ $1.72
There is every chance an angry Ravens team comes out and blitzes the Vikings off the field having had a fortnight to stew over a loss to Cincinnati.
Minnesota won’t be too pleased with themselves heading into this game and if Mike Zimmer knows what he is doing, he will be selling this as a make or break game for their season.
Perhaps it was the primetime lights, perhaps it was something Dallas was doing schematically but this is a much better side than 16 points against the Cowboys.
This points total looks way too low and rather than wading into the head to head and line options, take a high scoring game.
Back Over 49.5 Points @ $1.90
It might not be what everyone was hoping to hear, but there’s a chance that New England might be a decent team again.
Probably not good enough to back them to win the Super Bowl at $41 but impressive enough to not be surprised that they are four point road favourites at Carolina.
They overcame Mac Jones struggling in LA last week and won back to back games for the first time this season, and are now chasing three in a row for the first time since Weeks 6-8 in in 2019.
Carolina may be without its star weapon Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Sam Darnold with the offence really hitting a wall lately.
If one or both of those guys are out, this line could grow even further.
Back Bill Belichick to get his team to 4-0 on the road this season.
Back New England to Cover -4.5 @ $1.90
Los Angeles should be able to head over to Philadelphia and end their two game losing streak here.
This head to head market is a lot closer than it should be, perhaps slightly swayed by the Eagles beat down of Detroit.
But that’s not a bad thing by any means, it puts the Chargers head to head at a price that is worth taking.
Back LA Chargers to Win @ $1.80
Perfect no more, Arizona will look to start a new winning streak when they head to San Francisco in Week 9.
It was an uncharacteristically sloppy performance against an undermanned Packers side and a nice reminder to Kliff Kingsbury and company that simply showing up is not enough to guarantee victory.
San Francisco got their season back on track by moving to 3-4 last week, and they will feel good about their last performance against Arizona, turning the game into a defensive struggle that they only just fell short in.
Based on how both of these teams are setup, we should see another hard fought, close game, but I have to side with Arizona in the clutch, they have the record this season and have already knocked off San Francisco once.
Back Arizona to Win by 1-13
The NFL really is a league where things can change in an instant.
One minute you are preparing to truckload Green Bay as $1.94 underdogs against a struggling Kansas City team.
Next thing you know, Aaron Rodgers tests positive for Covid, is ruled out of this game and now you’re wondering if a 7.5 point line favouring the Chiefs is enough.
It cannot be understated just how important Rodgers is to the Packers, but all you have to do is think back to last week to remind yourself of the value of a decent backup quarterback.
The problem is we just don’t know if Jordan Love is decent given he has played 18 career snaps, most of which came in garbage time in Week 1, so you can’t really make a fair assessment on where he is.
It is worth remembering that when Rodgers was engaged in his dispute with the team in the offseason, Matt LaFleur was more than willing to go with Love as his guy this year.
Plus, the Chiefs defence is a relatively soft landing for an inexperienced quarterback, plus you know the Packers will coach around it and rely on Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon to shoulder the load.
I like Green Bay to at least keep it close still, but if Kansas City can’t win, then their season is over.
Back Green Bay to Cover +7.5 @ $1.90
We could have been in for an all time Sunday Night Football clash between arguably the best team in the league and the best player in the league.
Tennessee’s Super Bowl hopes took a major nosedive with the news Derrick Henry is done for six to eight weeks and probably the season.
It puts all the pressure on Ryan Tannehill who will need to be essentially perfect throwing the ball.
He should be able to put up some points on the Rams in this game but not enough to keep pace with Matthew Stafford and company.
The Rams are just too good and should win a shootout.
Back the LA Rams to Cover -7.5 and Over 53.5 @ $3.50
After being written off a month ago, the Steelers have rattled off three straight wins to reinsert themselves into the playoff picture.
Chicago on the other hand is bringing a three game losing streak into this one and their offence continues to stumble through games as Justin Fields learns about life as an NFL quarterback.
Pittsburgh’s defence has actually been very good this season, helping cover for their inconsistent offence and they should have no trouble keeping Chicago in check.
It may not look like a blowout on the scoreboard however with the Steelers unlikely to score more than 24 points so I’ll back them to win a close one here.
Back Pittsburgh to Win by 1-13 @ $2.30
2020
NFL punters will be hoping to get back to basics this week after only four favourites managed to cover the spread in Week 8.
Monday’s early window kicks off with a potential playoff preview between the Colts and the Ravens, followed by a cross conference showdown between the Bills and the Seahawks that could help to determine the makeup of both the AFC East and the NFC West.
Sunday Night Football promises to be a real treat when Tom Brady and the Bucs face Drew Brees and the Saints for the second time this season, while Monday Night Football’s game between the Jets and the Patriots might be good for a laugh.
With another huge 14 game slate to sink your teeth into, be sure to read our 2020 NFL Week 9 Preview below!
Friday’s game is a little tricky to get a feel for.
Packers rookie running back A.J. Dillion tested positive following Monday’s loss to the Vikings and it’s believed he’s been in close contact with a handful of his teammates.
On San Francisco’s side, the Niners are set to carry on without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who has been sidelined indefinitely with an ankle sprain.
Levi’s Stadium was a house of horrors last year for the Packers as Matt LaFleur’s side lost two games to the Niners in blowout fashion.
Kyle Shanahan ran the ball down Green Bay’s throats on both occasions and it’s no secret we’ll see the same on Friday following Dalvin Cook’s success last week at Lambeau Field.
The Packers have some serious issues when it comes to defending the run, but it wouldn’t be surprising to watch Mike Pettine’s defence respond in a big way to the criticism during the week.
With the likes of Aaron Jones and David Bakhtiari set to return and the Niners missing their starting quarterback, the Packers should get a rare win on the West Coast, even if it isn’t pretty.
Tip: Back the Packers to Cover the Line
The NFC North suddenly got interesting last week as the Vikings pulled off an impressive win over the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Minnesota’s season was basically hanging on by a thread with only one win from six games, but thanks to Dalvin Cook and a pretty strong day from their young defence, the Vikings managed to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Brad Zimmer will be hoping to take that same form into this week’s contest against Detroit.
The Lions were on the receiving end of a 20-point blowout last week against the Colts, a result that has left them at +3.5 heading into Week 9’s crucial contest.
Now at 3-4, another loss could almost be catastrophic for Detroit with the Vikings hot on their heels.
Worse yet, the Vikings have won seven of their last 10 games against the Lions, which includes back-to-back blowouts in their season series last year.
Cook has been the catalyst for Minnesota’s turnaround and it’s hard to see Detroit putting a stop to it.
The Lions were just gashed for 89 yards and a touchdown by Jordan Wilkins last week, while they also rank Top 10 in rushing touchdowns allowed.
Considering the Vikings beat the Packers last week and also lost by no more than a touchdown to the Seahawks and Titans before the bye, this shapes up as another win for the Purple People Eaters.
Tip: Back the Vikings to Cover the Line (-3.5 Points) @ $1.90
The Falcons and the Broncos were two of the standouts to emerge from Week 8 as both franchises picked up a pair of crucial wins against division opponents.
Atlanta held off a late challenge from the Panthers to secure their second win of the season, while the Broncos erased a 21-point deficit against the Chargers to win on a walkoff extra point.
Obviously it’s difficult to get too excited about this game based on where both teams sit in the standings, but considering they haven’t met since 2016, there’s a strong chance it turns out to be interesting.
The Falcons proved last week that their offence is capable of putting up big numbers on the scoreboard, largely due to the defence’s inability to stop teams from scoring.
Fortunately, the Broncos rank bottom five in points scored this year, so this does shape up as a fairly winnable game for Atlanta.
The trends also work in the Falcons’ favour in this cross-conference matchup.
After losing to the Bucs earlier in the year, the Broncos are now 1-5 in their last six games against opponents from the NFC, while the Falcons are 10-4 against the spread vs teams from the AFC.
With a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time since last season, this might be the most confident we’ve felt in the Falcons all year.
Tip: Back the Falcons 1-13
The bottom of the AFC South is up for grabs on Monday as both the Jags and the Texans set out to win their second game of the season.
Houston may be the victim of the trade deadline before this game kicks off, but they’ve still opened at -6.5 with the Jaguars forced to start sixth round rookie Jake Luton in place of the injured Gardner Minshew.
The Texans have won eight of their last 10 games against Jacksonville and are also 6-4 against the spread during that time.
Defensively, these two sides both rank Top 10 in both points allowed and yards allowed, largely due to the fact neither team can really defend the run.
With that in mind, you might think this game has the makings of a high-scoring shootout, but it’s difficult to see Luton piling on a ton of points in his first career start.
Instead, the safest bet here is the Texans and the Under.
Tip: Back the Texans to Cover the Line (-6.5 Points) & Under 51.5 Total Points @ $3.75
Fans will be treated to another NFC East battle for the third week in a row between the 2-5 Washington Football Team and the 1-7 New York Giants.
While it’s hard to get overly excited about two of the league’s worst teams, this game actually holds plenty of weight with Washington sitting just a game behind the first-place Eagles in the division.
Ron Rivera’s side will be full of confidence coming off the bye after defeating the Cowboys quite convincingly a week earlier.
The Giants managed to outdo themselves on Monday Night Football last week losing 25-23 to the Bucs. There was plenty of merit in the way New York played in the first half, but not for the first time this season, two sloppy interceptions from Daniel Jones cost the G-Men the game.
Despite their records, this is easily one of the toughest games to pick this week.
The Giants haven’t lost by much to teams like the Bears, Rams, Eagles and Bucs this year, while you certainly can’t read too much into Washington’s win over a half strength Cowboys team.
Believe it or not, the Giants have covered in four of its last five games and they are also 7-0 against the spread in their last seven games away from home.
There really isn’t as much separating the two as the market suggests, so take Big Blue to cover.
Tip: Back the Giants to Cover the Line (+3 Points) @ $1.90
This cross conference game couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Bills and the Seahawks as both teams continue to cling to the top spot in their respective divisions.
At 6-2, the Bills have steadied the ship with a couple of cheap wins over the Jets and the Patriots, but with the 4-3 Dolphins breathing down their neck, they really can’t afford to slip up.
The Seahawks also bounced back with a win last week over the Niners after suffering an overtime defeat to the Cardinals a week earlier.
Seattle remains one of the teams to beat in the NFC, but with the defence looking a little suspect and the Cardinals hot on their heels, this is another must-win game for Pete Carroll’s side.
These cross-conference games are always difficult to get a feel for, largely due to the fact both sides simply aren’t familiar with one another.
The last time the Bills and Seahawks met was in 2016, a game Seattle won 31-25 in a thriller.
Things have changed a lot since then, but it’s safe to assume the Bills are going to spend most of this game challenging Seattle through the air.
The Seahawks’ secondary has been awful this year allowing not only the most passing yards in the league, but also the most first downs.
Despite a couple of underwhelming games against the Jets and Patriots, Buffalo’s vertical game is quite easily one of the best in the league.
The Bills rank top six in passing yards and passing touchdowns, meaning if Josh Allen can keep the turnovers to a minimum, Buffalo should come close to winning this game.
We saw Seattle struggle with Arizona’s deep wide receiver core, and while Buffalo’s isn’t quite on the same talent level, the Bills certainly pose a similar problem.
Tip: Back the Bills to Cover the Line (+2.5 Points) @ $1.98
This should be a fascinating game for a number of different reasons.
Tennessee and Chicago are both coming off back-to-back losses in which both teams have struggled defensively.
The Titans were manhandled last week by Joe Burrow and the Bengals in Cincinnati, while the Bears lost a heartbreaker to Drew Brees and the Saints in overtime.
Generally speaking, the panic index is trending towards high on these two playoff contenders as both sides now find themselves with work to do in their respective divisions.
Chicago’s loss last week not only let the Packers off the hook, but also leaves the Bears outside the playoff bracket if the season were to end today.
The Titans, meanwhile, find themselves in a firm sprint to the finish line with the Colts, who now sit equal atop the South at 5-2.
So with all this in mind, who wins on Monday?
You don’t see it very often, but the Bears really struggled to defend the run last week against the Saints as Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill and Latavius Murray all combined for over 100 yards.
Kamara also gashed the Bears through the air, which is slightly worrying considering Derrick Henry will be on the opposite sideline this week.
Worse yet, the Bears’ offensive line gave up five sacks to the Saints.
Tennessee’s pass rush is far from elite, but if the Titans can rush Foles and feed Henry the ball wherever possible, they might win this big.
Tip: Back the Titans 14+ @ $3.15
The Chiefs improved to 7-1 last week with a massive win over the Jets as they now set their sights on a struggling Panthers team fighting to keep their season alive.
Carolina looked a strong chance to at least take out a Wild Card spot in the NFC before three straight losses to the Bears, Saints and Falcons got in the way.
Matt Rhule’s side had its chances last week against a flimsy Falcons defence, but somehow managed to convert only twice on third down.
The Chiefs are not surprisingly laying double digits as they return to Arrowhead for the first time since Week 5.
Kansas City’s defence has allowed less than 20 points in each of its last two games, which spells big trouble for a Carolina offence that ranks 28th in passing touchdowns this year.
These two sides don’t get together very often, in fact, the last time they met was way back in 2016.
The Panthers should be boosted by Christian McCaffrey’s potential return, but with Teddy Bridgewater struggling for time in the pocket and the Chiefs playing lights out defensively, it’s difficult to see Carolina keeping this competitive.
Tip: Panthers Under 19 Points @ $1.91
Two interceptions from Lamar Jackson cost the Ravens big time last week against the Steelers, but there’s no time to dwell on the past with a game against the 5-2 Colts up next.
As expected, there is very little separating these two AFC Wild Card contenders both head-to-head and at the line.
Baltimore is being favoured ever so slightly at -2.5, but nothing is a guarantee against a Colts defence that is arguably one of the best in the league.
Indianapolis has so far allowed the fewest total yards and the third-fewest points in the entire league, which does pose a bit of a problem for a Baltimore offence that is yet to really click into gear.
That being said, the Colts are yet to face a test of this magniture.
So far Indianapolis owns wins over the Vikings, Jets, Bears, Bengals and Lions, only one of which is currently above .500.
The Ravens rarely lose back-to-back games, and while the Colts are outstanding defensively, it’s difficult to back the turnover-prone Philip Rivers with any confidence against a fierce Baltimore pass rush.
Tip: Back the Ravens to Cover the Line (-2.5 Points) @ $1.91
The Raiders have a real opportunity to improve on their Wild Card chances this week when they head to Los Angeles to face the Chargers.
Jon Gruden’s side pulled off a comfortable 10-point win last week against the Browns to improve to 4-2, and if the defence can hold Justin Herbert to under 150 passing yards like it did last week against Baker Mayfield, the Raiders should be winning this game.
The Chargers continue to come up with new ways to lose, as we saw last week when they blew a 21-point lead against the Broncos.
There’s no denying there are a plenty of positives when it comes to LA’s offence, but as we’ve seen with the Falcons, those kinds of losses can really hurt the psyche of a young team.
This is a game the Raiders really need to win with the Chiefs and Colts coming up over the next six weeks.
The Chargers famously blew both games against the Raiders last year, and passed on everything we’ve seen this season, there’s a good chance history repeats itself.
Tip: Back the Raiders 1-13 @ $2.75
There’s a very strong chance this turns out to be one of the games of the week between two promising up and coming teams.
While Tua Tagavailoa wasn’t asked to do much in his rookie debut last week against the Rams, the Dolphins still managed to remind everyone that they are indeed a playoff contender with an impressive 28-17 win.
The Cardinals are returning from the bye week hoping to pick up where they left off a fortnight ago in their overtime win against Seattle.
Typically speaking, Arizona has been a strong bet following a week off playing to a 4-2 record after the bye dating back to 2015. That said, the Cardinals will need to ensure they’re at their best against what has been a surprisingly good Dolphins defence this season.
Miami currently rank dead last in points allowed, an almost unfathomable turnaround after ranking top five in the same department last year.
This is equally a huge test for the Dolphins as they prepare to face what is arguably one of the most volatile offences in the league.
It would not surprise to watch either team win this game, although you do have to lean towards Arizona based on the way they shutdown Russell Wilson two weeks ago.
The Cardinals’ pass rush is vastly underrated at this point, and since we haven’t seen much from Tua just yet, this one might just be a little beyond the Dolphins.
Tip: Dolphins Under 21.5 Total Points @ $1.85
Things are about to get a whole lot worse if you’re a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
Following a 23-9 drubbing at the hands of the Eagles last week, Mike McCarthy’s men now prepare to host the undefeated Steelers in a game that could get ugly in a hurry.
Pittsburgh has never opened a season 8-0, so it’s fair to say there is a bit of history on the line this week.
It’s also fair to say the Steelers should win this game comfortably if last week’s four-point win over the Ravens was any indication.
Ben Roethlisberger and his receivers on another level right now, while the defence is really starting to resemble the days of old.
With Andy Dalton already ruled out due to a positive test and Cooper Rush likely to make his first NFL start, this one really isn’t worth overcomplicating.
Tip: Back the Steelers to Cover the Line (-14 Points) @ $1.91
A crucial NFC South showdown headlines Sunday Night Football this week between the 6-2 Buccaneers and the 5-2 Saints.
After annihilating the Packers and Raiders in back-to-back games, the Bucs surprisingly had their hands full last week against the Giants in a thriller at MetLife.
The offence struggled mightily in the first half, but fortunately the defence came up with two huge turnovers to help the Bucs to a narrow 25-23 win.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, the Saints came away with a three-point overtime win against the Bears to make it four in a row.
New Orleans looked in real trouble to start the season, but they’ve really steadied the ship over the last month thanks to some consistency from Alvin Kamara and some better coverage defensively through the air.
That being said, the Saints’ list of wins over their last four games is far from impressive.
Aside from the Bears, the list of wins includes the Lions, Chargers and Panthers – all of which are under .500.
Some might argue that the Saints actually beat the Bucs back in Week 1, but that was well before Tom Brady and the rest of this Tampa offence began to click.
We saw the likes of Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and even Gronk completely destroy the Packers three weeks ago, and despite some improvement, it’s tough to argue the Saints are any better defensively.
A close scare like last week’s one is enough to motivate Tom Brady, and with home field advantage this time around, the Bucs should get their revenge.
Tip: Back the Bucs 14+ @ $3.05
The NFL has saved the worst for last this week in what might go down as the worst Monday Night Football game in history.
Still winless, the Jets are hoping to avoid their first 0-9 start in franchise history, while the Patriots are simply hoping to avoid complete embarrassment against the worst team in the league.
The Jets are coming off a blowout loss to the Chiefs last week and it is almost impossible to back them with any confidence over the remainder of the season.
At the same time, the Patriots have been tough to watch over the last month losing to the Chiefs, Broncos, Niners and Bills as Cam Newton continues to find new ways to turn the ball over.
There’s nothing pretty about New England since Tom Brady skipped town, but this does shape up as the perfect game for the Patriots to get back on track.
As we saw last week in the three point loss to Buffalo, Bill Belichick’s knowledge against division opponents is priceless, so it’s worth banking on the greatest coach of all-time to stake one more dagger in Adam Gase’s coffin.
Tip: Back the Patriots to Cover the Line (-7 Points) @ $1.90
2019
Eight weeks of football are now in the books as the murky playoff picture suddenly looks a lot more clear.
The Patriots and the 49ers remain the only two unbeaten teams heading into Week 9, while the NFC remains anyone’s best guess with the Saints, Packers and Vikings all staking their claim as potential Super Bowl contenders.
The Bengals, Falcons, Rams and Saints all head for the bye, setting up what should be one of the most exciting weeks on the calendar. With the final London game of the season kicking off, as well as a Sunday Night Football blockbuster, be sure to read all of our 2019 NFL Week 9 tips below if you fancy backing some winners.
Punters looking for some value will be hoping the Cardinals can come good on their 9-1 record against the 49ers.
Unfortunately, Arizona don’t look the part at all this year, especially on the heels of a 31-9 loss to the Saints last week.
Offensively the Cardinals were no match for New Orleans as Kyler Murray failed to throw a single touchdown pass. Two third down conversions from 12 atttempts didn’t help matters, while the running game looks a little questionable with David Johnson (ankle) and Chase Edmonds (hamstring) both skipping Monday’s practice.
If you caught even a glimpse of the 49ers last week, you’ll know all of the above spells bad news with San Francisco coming to town. The Niners’ defence is easily the best in the NFC, as the Panthers found out the hard way last week in their stunning 51-13 loss.
San Francisco’s pass rush has tallied 27 sacks this year – the fourth-most in the league. The Niners also rank second to the Patriots in turnovers, which has helped five of their last seven games go Under the Total.
These Friday games continue to throw curveballs, but with an equally impressive 5-2 record against the spread in their last seven games, this one isn’t worth overcomplicating. Niners to Cover in a low-scoring game.
Tip: Back the Niners to Cover the Line (-9.5 Points) & Under 43.5 Total Points @ $3.70
Out of the three London games this season, the NFL looks to have saved the best for last.
The Texans found themselves in a high-risk thriller last week against a much-improved Raiders side. It took every bit of Deshaun Watson’s creativity and athleticism to throw a game-winning touchdown pass to Darren Fells, but as they say, good teams find ways to win, and that’s exactly what the Texans accomplished.
Jacksonville also showed plenty of heart last week in their 29-15 win over the Jets. You might not know it, but the Jags, now at 4-4, are staring down the barrel of a potential Wild Card spot should they win this game on Monday morning over their division rival.
Of course, the stats don’t lie – the Texans have enjoyed the better part of this fixture in recent years. Houston has won eight of its last 10-games against the Jags, also playing to the tune of a handy 4-1 record against the spread in their last five games in Jacksonville.
But while the trends suggest the Texans are worthy favourites, it’s hard to go past the Jaguars’ defence. Last week alone the Jags tallied eight sacks on Sam Darnold, which leaves them just two shy of the Patriots’ total.
If you haven’t heard, the Texans aren’t well-known for protecting Watson. In eight games Houston has allowed 24 sacks on their quarterback – food for seventh in the league.
With all that in mind, take the Jaguars’ defence to make a statement on what is technically their home turf.
Tip: Back the Jaguars to Win @ $2.10
There’s still no word on the status of Patrick Mahomes at time of publish, but even so, this is far and away the game of the week.
No knock on Matt Moore, but the Chiefs probably would have squeaked out a win last week against the Packers if Mahomes was on the field. Even without the reigning MVP, Kansas City still tallied 337-yards of total offence though, highlighting just how scary this team is as we march towards the playoffs.
Speaking of the Packers, the Vikings still remain hot on the heels of Green Bay as they look to extend their winning streak to five. You can’t pool Minnesota in with the Saints, Niners and Packers in the NFC just yet, but this is still a serious Super Bowl contender with a defence to match.
Surprisingly, the Chiefs have opened as 2.5-point underdogs despite holding home-field advantage. You can expect that to swing in Kansas City’s favour if Mahomes stars, but for now, this looks to be a bit of a coin flip.
These two teams haven’t met since 2015, so trends are useless. Instead, it’s worth considering the run defence of both teams, because as you might have heard already, both are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum.
Kansas City was shredded by Aaron Jones last week, which came as no surprise considering the Chiefs are allowing 145 average yards per-game. Down the other end, the Vikings have allowed just 89.4 to go along with, get this, one rushing touchdown.
Dalvin Cook holds the key to this game, and you’d be foolish to bet against the league’s leading rusher. With value on offer, make sure you get in early.
Tip: Back the Vikings 1-12
These two sides get to look eachother in the mirror this week as Jets coach Adam Gase faces his former team.
Gase coached the Dolphins to a 23-25 record during his three year stint in Miami, but it’s doubtful he lasts that long in New York as the Jets scramble for answers.
When it comes right down to it, the playcalling has been awful all season in New York. Sam Darnold was sacked eight times last week in a 29-15 loss to the Jaguars, while the offence as a whole currently ranks dead last in total yards.
But of course, a game against Miami is basically a bye week, right?
Well, as the Steelers found out in the first half last week, the Dolphins still mean business even if they are tanking for the No. 1 overall pick. Miami put up 14 unanswered points in Pittsburgh with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, but ultimately, the defence eventually failed to keep the Steelers contained.
This shapes up as a very underwhelming game between two sides eyeing the end of the season. If you have to bet, you can find some faith in the Jets’ 14-5-1 record against the spread on the road in Miami, but just don’t expect this to be pretty.
Tip: Back the Jets to Cover the Line (-5.5 Points) @ $1.91
The Bills could cruise into the playoffs from here with an easy strength of schedule, but the jury is still out on Sean McDermott’s side for the time being.
Buffalo lost comfortably last week at home to the Eagles as the defence was shredded on the ground. The Bills allowed three rushing touchdowns on the day, which sets up an interesting game this week against the seemingly rejuvenated Adrian Peterson.
The Redskins turned up for a fight last week in Minnesota. Spread bettors were left disappointed as Washington lost by only 10-points, but the highlight of the night came in the form of a 34-year-old Peterson rushing for 76-yards.
There isn’t much to get excited about in Washington, and the same also goes for this game. On one hand, this is the perfect opportunity for the Bills’ defence to get back on track, and on another, it’s also the perfect opportunity for Josh Allen to let loose against a very bad defence.
These two teams haven’t met since 2015, but with little on offer head-to-head, you’ll need to look elsewhere to find value. The Total has gone Under in three of Washington’s last four road games, so back this to be low-scoring.
Tip: Under 36.5 Total Points @ $1.92
This matchup mightn’t seem as exciting as it has in years past, but there’s still plenty on the line between two teams still in the hunt for the playoffs.
The Colts are by far the more polished team on paper (and in the standings). Indianapolis, now at 5-2, is riding the coattails of a three-game winning streak led by Jacoby Brissett, who has completed over 60% of his passes in each of his last three games.
Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, the Steelers return on short rest having survived a scare against the Dolphins at home. The 27-14 win was hardly convincing, but nonetheless, the Steelers, now at 3-4, are knocking on the door of the Ravens in the AFC North.
There’s certainly no love lost between these two AFC rivals, even if they havent met since 2017. The Steelers have won eight of their last 10 games over the Colts, however, there is something to be said about the Colts on the road.
Defensively Indianapolis continues to improve having allowed only 13 redzone touchdowns. The Colts have also been stellar on third down, which explains four of their last five games going Under the Total.
Tip: Under 43.5 Total Points @ $1.88
Panthers fans will be hoping their team can come improve on their 1-1 record following a previous loss.
Carolina were manhandled by the 49ers last week as Kyle Allen threw three interceptions in the 51-13 loss. The Panthers defence also took a serious step back allowing Niners running back Tevin Coleman to score four total touchdowns.
The Titans enjoyed a much more successful day holding on for a close 27-23 win over Tampa Bay. Don’t look now, but at 4-4, Tennessee are still a realistic chance to sneak into the Wild Card picture, but they’ll need to come good on their average 2-2 road record first.
It’s been a while in between drinks since these two sides last met back in 2015. The Titans have won three of their last five games against Carolina, but with two of the league’s better defences on the field, you’d be silly not to back a low-scoring game.
The Total has gone Under in five of Tennessee’s last seven games as well as four of their last five games on the road. The Total has also gone Under in four of the lsat five games between these two sides.
Tip: Under 41.5 Total Points @ $1.92
The long awaited double-doink rematch gets underway this week as the Bears not only hope to make something of what appears to be a lost season, but also seek revenge on the Eagles for last year’s Wild Card loss.
Chicago sunk to a new low last week losing 17-16 to the Chargers. Ironically, it was a missed field goal that cost the Bears a win, which has to leave fans feeling nervous as they hit the road.
The Eagles remain a complete question mark at 4-4 largely due to their defence. Philly are just one game behind the Cowboys in the NFC East, and while last week’s blowout win over the Bills was encouraging, the secondary still looks a major concern.
Speaking of concerns, the Bears offence looks destined for a complete shake up during the offseason. Mitchell Trubisky was sacked four times last week to go along with a lousy 253-yards and zero touchdowns. It was nice to see David Montgomery rush for 100-yards, but the Bears passing game continues to hold them back.
It’s difficult to find much faith in either of these sides right now, but as the record states, the Eagles have won four straight over the Bears. It’s doubtful they put up 31-points points on Chicago’s defence, but with a 2-1 home record, this should be an Eagles win.
Tip: Back the Eagles 1-13
If you’ve included the Seahawks in your multi’s over the last month, you’ve likely come away with a profit.
Seattle has won four of its last five games, but at the same time, last week’s 27-20 win over the Falcons left a lot to be desired.
Russell Wilson is still a serious MVP candidate, but his quiet 171-yard game against one of the NFL’s worst defences was mildly concerning.
The Seahawks defence also allowed Matt Schaub to throw for 460-yards and a touchdown. Seattle’s defence has allowed the third-most passing yards this year, which should play into Tampa Bay’s hands this week.
Bruce Arians is known for his “risk it for the biscuit” approach on offence. The Bucs have little more to play for than bragging rights at this stage, so you can expect to see plenty of long bombs from Jameis Winston to his talented receiving corp.
The Bucs tallied 389-yards of total offence last week against a very talented Titans defence. Controversially, Tampa Bay didn’t come away with the win, but with a 2-1 record in their last three games against the Seahawks, don’t discount the Bucs from causing a huge upset in a tough environment.
Tip: Back the Bucs to Cover the Line (+6 Points) @ $1.92
Two teams with only three wins on the board meet on Monday in what could turn out to be one of the best games of the week.
The Raiders have been one of the most exciting teams all year for many reasons. Derek Carr’s chemistry with wide receiver Tyrell Williams has become a real problem for opposing defences, and while it hasn’t translated into wins, it’s obvious head coach Jon Gruden is gearing towards something big in seasons to come.
Detroit also falls into the same category of teams that could seriously contend sometime soon. The Lions’ 3-3-1 record doesn’t do them justice, although it is hard to ignore how poorly the defence played last week against the Giants and Daniel Jones.
These two teams don’t get together very often – in fact their last meeting came all the way back in 2015. That said, the playoffs aren’t entirely out of the question for either franchise, making a win this week crucial if either hopes to make a surprise Wild Card appearance.
Defensively, neither the Lions nor the Raiders are playing particularly well against the pass. That being said, the 50.5-point Total looks a little too high.
The Total has gone Under in Oakland’s two home games so far this season, so play it safe with a low-scoring game.
Tip: Under 50.5 Total Points @ $1.92
The Broncos have won seven of their last eight games over the Browns, but can Denver be the team to finally put a dagger in Cleveland’s season?
The bookies think this one will be close with the line set at -3 in favour of the Browns. At times last week it looked as though Cleveland could come back from their 17-0 first quarter deficit against the Patriots, but in the end, three turnovers on three consecutive plays ultimately cost the Browns too many points and way too much time.
As for the Broncos, time also played a factor in their 15-13 loss to the Colts. Quarterback Joe Flacco didn’t hold back in his post-game press conference voicing his frustration with the teams lack of aggressiveness, which means we could see a new-look Broncos offence this week at home.
The Browns won at Mile High late lsat season pulling off a memorable 17-16 win. Cleveland’s 1-4 record against the spread in their last five games makes them tough to trust, but if there’s one thing you can hang your hat on, it’s running back Nick Chubb.
Denver’s defence hasn’t exactly been poor against the run, but they are allowing 4.1 average yards-per-carry. The Broncos defence has also been the seventh-most penalised team in the league, so if they give up free yardage, you can expect the Browns to make them pay.
Tip: Back the Browns 1-13
The Chargers improved to 3-5 thanks to some kicking woes from the Bears last week. The playoffs aren’t entirely out of the question from here, but Los Angeles will still need luck to be on their side against a red-hot Packers team on Monday.
Green Bay are now proud owners of road wins over Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City this season. Given, Patrick Mahomes was absent from last week’s win, but it appears Aaron Rodgers is back to his sickening best after making two seemingly impossible throws.
The Packers defence has taken a step back over the last three weeks, but that mightn’t hurt them too much against a Chargers team that ranks 21st in points scored.
Speaking of stats, do you know how bad Los Angeles has been when it comes to stopping the run this season? Through eight games, the Chargers have allowed the eighth-most rushing yards, which coincidentally ranks only one spot better than Green Bay.
Aaron Jones and Melvin Gordon hold the keys for either side this week. As far as a betting play goes though, you’re best off sticking with the Total considering five of Green Bay’s last six games have all gone Over.
Tip: Over 47 Total Points @ $1.92
The marquee game of the week, and maybe even the season.
New England received somewhat of a test last week against the Browns but still managed to pass with flying colours. The defence has recorded more takeaways than touchdowns allowed, which explains the Patriots’ commanding 8-0 perfect record.
Baltimore returns from the bye hoping to become the first team to spoil the Patriots’ party. Even at 5-2, the Ravens still have plenty of work to do in the AFC North, but as their three-game winning streak suggests, this is by far New England’s toughest game to date.
The Patriots have won three straight games over the Ravens dating back to 2013, although bookmakers aren’t entirely convinced with a narrow 3-point line set.
Last week the Browns showed the rest of the league that the Patriots are vulnerable to giving up large chunks of yards on the ground. If Nick Chubb held onto the football, maybe Cleveland would have won the game, but as it stands, the Patriots still gave up 131-yards to the talented downhill runner.
Baltimore has a similar weapon in their backfield by the name of Mark Ingram. The 29-year-old has scored a touchdown in four of his seven games so far this season and also averaged 6.5 yards-per-carry during his lone game against the Patriots back in 2017.
In their last six home games the Ravens are 0-6 against the spread. That said, Baltimore are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10-games against an AFC East opponent.
All things considered, take the Ravens to at least put a scare into the Super Bowl favourites.
Tip: Back the Ravens to Cover the Line (+3 Points) @ $1.91
It’s time to find out what the Cowboys are made of this week as they return from the bye.
The last time we saw Dallas they were piling on the points in an impressive 37-10 victory over the Eagles, but with Philly now just one game behind in the NFC East, every game from here on is crucial if the Cowboys wish to make the playoffs.
Dallas has won seven of their last 10-games over the Giants including five straight dating back to 2017. New York has nothing more to play for other than bragging rights, however Pat Shurmur’s side will still be eager to make up for last week’s narrow loss to the Lions at home.
Daniel Jones showed plenty of poise against a talented Detroit defence carving them up for 322-yards and four touchdowns. Things probably won’t come as easy this week though against a Dallas defence that has allowed the seventh-fewest passing yards all year.
The Giants also have an elite running back in Saquon Barkley to turn to, but the Cowboys have been just as strong against the run. All in all, this shapes up to be a Dallas win and one that they desperately need with the Vikings ahead the following week.
Tip: Back the Cowboys to Cover the Line (-7 Points) @ $1.92
2018
So Week 8 was pretty plain, wasn’t it?
Everything went off without a hitch as far as favourites go, but the good news is, the NFL schedule has served up a smorgasbord of match ups this week that could hold some serious playoff implications.
The Bengals, Cardinals, Colts, Eagles, Giants and Jaguars all take a seat this week, leaving us with two fascinating match ups between the Rams and Saints and the Packers and Patriots on Monday morning.
It’s a battle between some of the NFL’s most creative coaches and most elite quarterbacks, so who’s going home winning and grinning?
Be sure to check out entire 2018 NFL Week 9 Preview below to find out!
San Francisco 49ers (1-7): The Niners did all they could to throw the game away last week.
San Francisco got off to a fast start against Arizona in what always shaped up to be a pretty ugly affair. By halftime, the scoreboard said it all – San Francisco led 5-3.
But what transpired in the second half was nothing short of disaster. Again, the Niners scored quickly on a nice route over the middle to find Marquise Goodwin for the score. After applying so much pressure on Josh Rosen though in the first half though, San Francisco were shredded by Rosen and Larry Fitzgerald in the final quarter as the Cardinals went on to twin 18-15.
Not for the first time this season, it was a demoralising loss for the Niners against an opponent they probably should have beaten – especially after what was a pretty sound offensive effort.
This week, San Francisco gets to do it all over again against a 1-6 Raiders side that has recorded the fourth fewest turnovers in the league in a game that is shaping up to be a great Unders bet.
Oakland Raiders (1-6): As if we needed further proof, last week was another classic example of Khalil Mack’s absence.
Colts running back Marlon Mack gashed the Raiders for 132-rushing yards and two touchdowns, sending the Raiders to their sixth loss of the season as they struggled to apply any pressure down front.
Like the Niners, this is a game head coach Jon Gruden will feel like his team can win though. After trading away Amari Cooper however, it was painfully clear last week that if the Raiders are to win again this season, their hopes rely entirely on Derek Carr and Jared Cook.
The problem for the Raiders so far this season is this: time of possession. The Colts held the ball for almost an entire quarter last week, leaving Carr with only 28 passing attempts on the day.
If you’re looking to back a winner, the Raiders probably aren’t the safest play. They are 0-5 on the road, while the total has gone Under in all five games.
Tip: Back Under 47 Total Points @ $1.87
Buffalo Bills (2-6): The Bills treated us to three pretty fun quarters last week as they hosted the Patriots.
Buffalo’s defence showed up in tip top condition, holding New England out of the end zone up until the final term. Offensively though, Derek Anderson was the Bills’ ultimate undoing, throwing the game deciding pick six to Devin McCourty with less than five minutes to go.
There was lots to like from Buffalo, though. Bills coach Sean McDermott won’t die wondering as he rolled the dice on several deep shots. A handful paid off, meanwhile, the defence continued to make life tough for the Patriots on third down.
What continues to let the Bills down is quarterback play, and again, it’s anyone’s guess who’s starting this week. Buffalo threw Nathan Peterman to the wolves once again on Monday Night, but really, that’s just asking for disaster against this Bears defensive front this week.
Chicago Bears (4-3): The Bears are your NFC North leaders, at least for now.
Chicago face a tough schedule in the month ahead, but Monday’s game against the Bills presents as a real opportunity to cement their playoff chances with eight weeks remaining.
Last week’s win over the Jets was a classic example of how dangerous Chicago can be. Again it was a case of the Mitch Trubisky/Tarik Cohen show, as the pair hooked up for 70-yards and a score. But who can overlook Jordan Howard? For the fourth time this season he rushed for over 50-yards and a score.
On the defensive side of the ball, things were a little flat with Khalil Mack on the sidelines nursing an ankle injury, but the Bears still managed to play a disciplined brand of football. They accounted for just two penalties on the day at the same time holding the Jets to just three third down conversions.
A trip to Buffalo does pose a few challenges for this side, though. Chicago haven’t played at New Era Stadium since 2010, and as their 3-19 road record, the Bears aren’t a safe bet away from home.
Reigniting the spark on the pass rush will go a long way to winning this game against whoever the Bills throw in at quarterback. Plenty of play action passes and option reads for Trubisky should also see the Bears improve to 5-3.
Tip: Back the Bears to Beat The Line (-9.5 Points) @ $1.91
Carolina Panthers (5-2): Go ahead and throw the Panthers into the conversation with the Rams and the Saints.
Carolina’s convincing win over the Ravens sent a statement to the league last week – this team at least belongs in the second tier of the NFC’s elite.
Things got off to a rough start against Baltimore as the Panthers defence missed a few simple tackles on Alex Collins’ touchdown run. Fortunately their offense more than made up for it as Carolina used a great mix of run and pass to trounce the Ravens over the course of the game.
By far the most encouraging sign was rookie wide receiver D.J. Moore, who caught for a career high 90-yards.
Cam Newton was once again at his very best rushing for 52-yards, but after finishing the day as Carolina’s leading runner for the fifth time this season, perhaps the only concern for the Panthers right now is the running back position long term.
On a positive note, the Bucs are up next, a team that has allowed the highest completion percentage in the NFL. This should be child’s play for Newton at home in a must-win divisional game if the Panthers hope to hang tight to the first-place Saints.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4): Where to from here? The Bucs look well on their way to a fire sale this offseason after losing 37-34 to the Bengals, and its likely Jameis Winston is the first name out the door.
Winston started last week’s game against Cincinnati, but was immediately pulled after throwing four interceptions. In stepped Ryan Fitzpatrick, who threw a highlight reel bomb to DeSean Jackson, adding further confusion to the Bucs’ quarterback situation.
It looks as though Fitzpatrick is Tampa’s man (again) but this situation is only going to grow worse. Dirk Koetter’s coaching seat is red hot, and unfortunately, so are the Panthers.
The Bucs are 1-4 in their last five games on the road against Carolina, and with one of the worst defences in the league, it’s tough to see them pulling off an upset, even if Fitzmagic shows up.
Tip: Back the Panthers 7-12 @ $5.50
Cleveland Browns (2-5-1): What a difference two months can make.
After a fortnight of turmoil between head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam fired them both during the week, leaving Gregg Williams in charge.
The move marks the fourth coaching change for the Browns in the last five years, already cancelling out any plans of a culture change in Cleveland.
It’s a shame really, considering this team does possess some very real talent. From now until the end of the year, the main goal for the Browns should be to develop Baker Mayfield while also, somehow, trying to lure a new head coach ahead of 2019.
It’s not a very sexy situation for any potential suitor, especially with a trigger happy Haslam at the helm.
As far as this week’s game goes, there’s really not much to say. The Browns are 3-17-1 at home in their last 21 games, and there’s no tougher task in football than Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Kansas City Chiefs (7-1): Here’s a stat: the Chiefs punted the ball once in their two games prior to Monday’s win over the Broncos.
Andy Reid’s offense is a juggernaut, but most importantly, a problem for any opposing defensive coordinator. As Denver found out the hard way last week, when you over-commit to stopping Patrick Mahomes, you leave yourself vulnerable to Karreem Hunt, which will always result in plenty of yards and touchdowns.
On the flip side, Kansas City’s defence is a bit of a worry looking ahead. They should have no trouble with the Browns this week, however the Chiefs secondary blew their assignments on multiple occasions last week, leaving Case Keenum with two big time completions.
Fortunately, Kansas City are pretty handy on offense. Apart from the first, last week they scored on every possession they had, and if it isn’t Mahomes or Hunt, it’s Tyreek Hill or Travis Kelce peeling off chunks of yards.
Easy win on the road? The Chiefs are 1-5 at the line in their last six games in Cleveland. But really, you’d be foolish to back against them anytime soon.
Tip: Back the Chiefs to Beat The Line (-8 Points) @ $1.91
Miami Dolphins (4-4): Last week’s 42-23 loss to the Texans should have come as no surprise if you’ve been paying attention to the stat sheet.
The Dolphins have allowed the most rushing yards through eight weeks, and wouldn’t you know it, Texans’ running back Lamar Miller gashed them for 133-yards and a score.
To make matters worse, Deshaun Watson had himself a day throwing for 239-yards and five-touchdowns, leaving many contemplating the legitimacy of the Dolphins’ once winning record.
When you can’t sack the opposing quarterback or stop the run, you’re already on your way to losing. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, the Jets possess one of the more potent running back committees in the league, and despite the line being relatively short, Miami’s 2-4 record at home against the Jets isn’t very convincing.
New York Jets (3-5): For the first time this season the Jets looked a little flat last week against the Bears. New York totalled just 207-yards offensively, and struggled to place any pressure on Mitch Trubisky and Chicago’s explosive running game.
A less than healthy Isaiah Crowell has hurt the Jets in back-to-back weeks. Sam Darnold’s future still looks very bright, but without a strong running game to rely on, the Jets look very one dimensional.
For New York to win this week though, the Jets’ running game needs to be at full strength. The Dolphins are the worst team in the league when it comes to stopping the run, and if the Jets can use Crowell to set up some deep passes to Robbie Anderson and Jermaine Kearse, they should be able to test Miami’s secondary just like Houston did last week.
Head-to-head, these two teams have won five games apiece across their last 10 meetings. This presents as perhaps one of the toughest games to predict this week, so the Points market looks a safe play.
Tip: Back Over 45.5 Total Points @ $1.91
Baltimore Ravens (4-4): Lots to dislike about the Ravens last week. Despite scoring on their first drive of the game, nothing came easy after three big time penalties.
The bad luck continued from there as the offensive line looked completely out of sync. Communication was at an all-time low, proving costly on an Alex Collins fumble created from poor blocking on the edges.
After turning it over, the Panthers went on to score three plays later. That touchdown proved costly in the 36-21 loss, capping off a horror day for Joe Flacco who threw for just 192-yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
The Ravens have crashed back down to earth in the last two weeks, however the AFC North division crown is still up for grabs.
Surprisingly enough, the bookies have the Ravens as the favourites with home field advantage, which probably makes sense considering they only beat the Steelers four weeks ago at Heinz Field.
Baltimore’s defence held James Conner to just 19-yards that day, and after a lacklustre effort last week against Carolina, they’ll need to find that same form again on Monday.
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2-1): There was no room to work with last time the Steelers met the Ravens. Pittsburgh’s entire attack was limited to just 284-yards, a day to forget as Mike Tomlin’s team went 2/12 on third down conversions.
The Steelers’ fortune has turned around a little since then, though. James Connor rushed for 146-yards and a pair of touchdowns last week in the win over the Browns, a performance the second-year runner will need to replicate this week against a stout Ravens run defence.
Pittsburgh have won four of their last 10 meetings against Pittsburgh, and are 1-4 in their last five games in Baltimore.
Even so, the Ravens have been their own worst enemy in recent weeks, missing extra points, committing silly penalties, and turning the ball over.
It’s safe to say no one is taking the Steelers seriously in the AFC just yet, which is always dangerous. With the chance to gain a stranglehold on the division, make sure you take them in an upset.
Tip: Back the Steelers to Win @ $2.25
Minnesota Vikings (4-3-1): Let’s be real, the Vikings are a playoff team, but there’s just something missing from Minnesota right now.
Last week’s loss against the Saints was a far cry from their Divisional Round performance in last year’s playoffs, and sure, there were some big defensive names like Connor Barr missing, but the intimidation factor is lacking right now.
Offensively, the Vikings are sound right now, which like every other team in the NFC North, will carry them throughout the rest of the season.
Another week, another 100-yards for Adam Thielen, and even without Dalvin Cook, the running game remains in capable hands with Latavius Murray.
With the Bears currently sitting atop the NFC North, this week’s game against the Lions is crucial for the division picture. Minnesota are 16-4 against the Lions at home, and after a dismal defensive performance from Detroit last week, they shouldn’t have any trouble dismantling the Lions.
Detroit Lions (3-4): Pick your poison, that’s basically what the Lions are doing right now.
Last week Detroit couldn’t stop the run allowing 105-yards and a touchdown to Chris Carson, and in the air, Russell Wilson torched the Lions for 248-yards and three scores.
It’s been one step forward, two steps back for Matt Patricia’s side this season. The schedule is ultimately Detroit’s worst enemy right now, and with trade rumours surrounding Golden Tate, it appears the Lions might be looking ahead to 2019 already.
If this game was at Ford Field, you’d probably give the Lions half a chance. Having won just one of their three games on the road this season though, Detroit aren’t worth touching.
Tip: Back the Vikings 13-18 @ $5.75
Washington Redskins (5-2): The old boy showed up last week to teach the kids a thing or two.
Adrian Peterson rushed for 149-yards and a touchdown in the Redskins’ 20-13 win over the Cowboys, rewinding the clock to prove each team that passed on him during the offseason that he has indeed, still got it.
Speaking of got it, the Redskins sure do. Washington are the odds on favourite to win the NFC East now, and it’s hard to argue with a defence that has allowed the eighth fewest passing yards and the second fewest rushing yards in the league.
Interestingly enough, these two teams haven’t met since 2015, a game the Falcons won in narrow six-point fashion. In case you haven’t been paying attention though, this is a very different Atlanta side this season.
Fortunately for the Redskins, they hold home field advantage this week, which has proven a winning commodity for Washington this season. The Falcons haven’t travelled to FedEx Field since 2012, and are also 1-4 in their last five road games.
Atlanta Falcons (3-4): The Falcons return from a week off, a 12 day break they hope will be enough to turn their season around.
The last time we saw Atlanta they were clinging to a three-point lead over the Giants in New York. It was a much-needed win for the Falcons, but one that wasn’t all that convincing from an offensive standpoint.
You might not know it, but Matt Ryan is halfway toward putting up similar numbers to his 2016 season. Unfortunately, the rest of the Falcons’ offense is struggling, evident in the fact that Julio Jones still hasn’t caught a touchdown pass.
It doesn’t help when your leading running back is battered and bruised, and of course, the defence remains one of the worst in the league against the pass.
Given their unfamiliarity with FedEx Field, take the Redskins at the line.
Tip: Back the Redskins to Beat The Line (-1 Point) @ $1.91
Denver Broncos (3-5): Despite the loss to the Chiefs, Case Keenum had himself a game last week.
In a hostile environment like Kansas City, Keenum stood in the pocket and made some big time throws, in the end, finishing with 262-yards and a pair of touchdowns.
What let Denver down though was their tunnel vision. The Broncos fell into the trap of paying too close attention to Patrick Mahomes, which of course, turned into 86-yard, one touchdown day for Kareem Hunt.
The Broncos also shot themselves in the foot more than once. If it wasn’t penalties, it was a shanked punt from Colby Wadman that gifted the Chiefs the ball at the 40.
Mistakes like that can’t happen, especially against a team like Kansas City. On the plus side, the Broncos pass rush was back to its best, with Bradley Chubb and Von Miller wreaking havoc on Mahomes in the early stages of the game.
Given the baron state of the Texans’ offensive line, the Broncos could make this one very interesting for a Houston side that is lucky to lead the South.
Houston Texans (5-3): Take nothing away from the Texans, they dominated the Dolphins last week.
Deshaun Watson enjoyed a career day throwing four touchdown passes, while Lamar Miller strung together back-to-back weeks of 100-plus rushing yards.
Houston did suffer a small loss last week though in the form of Will Fuller. It’s a season-ending ACL tear for the third-year receiver, leaving the bulk of the load on DeAndre Hopkins with Keke Coutee still questionable.
The Texans’ offensive line will be their biggest let down this season, and after enjoying a cushy week against a Dolphins pass rush that has been basically non-existent, it should feel the pressure again against the Broncos.
The line says it all – this game will be close, but with a 2-4 record in their last six games against Denver, roll with the Broncos.
Tip: Back the Broncos to Beat the Line (-2.5 Points) @ $1.91
Seattle Seahawks (4-3): Note to self: never doubt Russell Wilson ever again.
So much was made of Seattle’s offensive line, and their lack of receiving weapons, but Wilson still managed to shred the Lions for 248-yards and three touchdowns last week.
Now, the Seahawks have a winning record, and although they won’t catch the Rams in the NFC West, they still might be a sneaky Wild Card chance if this keeps up.
Matching up with the Chargers this week won’t be easy, but if Seattle can control LA’s potent ground game like they did against the Lions, who knows, the upset might be on.
The bookies have paid the Seahawks some respect this week. The odds remain razor tight with both teams around the $1.90 mark earlier this week.
With LA holding a very unlikeable 2-6 record on the road in Seattle however, Seattle are very enticing.
Los Angeles Chargers (5-2): The Chargers belong somewhere on the second tier of elite teams in the AFC, right behind the Patriots.
LA enjoyed a handy week off last week in preparation for this week’s trip to Seattle, and after trying their very best to throw the game away against the Titans in London back in Week 7, Charger fans will be hoping for something a little more convincing this week.
The Chargers will again be without Joey Bosa, who is reportedly no closer to returning anytime soon. LA looked susceptible around the goal line against Tennessee, which doesn’t bode well meeting up against Russell Wilson and his speedy wheels.
It’s tough to separate these two teams based on recent performances. Have the Seahawks really beaten anyone of importance? And how confident can we be in the Chargers after years of inconsistencies toward’s the midway point of the season?
With very little answers just yet, this is a market to avoid.
Tip: No Bet
New Orleans Saints (6-1): We could probably make a case for the Saints as the best team in the NFC right now. Or of course, we could just allow the Saints to do it for us against the undefeated Rams this week.
New Orleans are a scary match up for anyone right now, and that fear only triples at home in the Superdome. The Saints made short work of the Vikings last week, at least offensively, anyway.
P.J. Williams’ pick six was basically the only defensive highlight for the Saints on a day that was dominated by the Vikings. And with that in mind, it’s safe to say the Saints secondary will need to play out of their mind this week against the Rams passing attack.
New Orleans are 2-6 at the line in their last eight games against the Rams, but most importantly, LA haven’t travelled to the Superdome since 2016. Surprisingly, the bookies have the Saints as the favourites in this one, which mightn’t be a bad play if you consider the following…
Los Angeles Rams (8-0): On one level, this is a meeting between two of the most schematic minds in the NFL. On another, it’s a meeting between two high profile offensive units that are likely going to meet sometime again in the New Year.
The Rams came close to blowing it last week, and we’ll never know if Aaron Rodgers could have handed LA their first loss of the season. Given the way the Rams were playing though, particularly on defence, it’s safe to say the Packers stood a very good chance.
Marcus Peters was particularly poor for the Rams, blowing his assignment on several occasions one on one with Davante Adams. That kind of play won’t hold up against the likes of Michael Thomas this week, which should scare some punters with the Rams on the road.
Whether it comes this week, or sometime in the next month, it’s highly unlikely the Rams emerge from November still undefeated. Expect a shootout similar to the meeting we saw between the AFC’s elite (Kansas City/New England) two weeks ago.
Tip: Back the Saints To Win @ $1.83
New England Patriots (6-2): Luck looked to be on New England’s side on Monday Night against the Bills. For the first time this season, the Patriots looked a little befuddled on third down, failing to score a single touchdown before the fourth quarter.
Eventually the Bills decided their own demise in the end, a costly Derek Anderson interception turned into six points for New England and Devin McCourty. Still, for the second week in a row, the Patriots were tested for four quarters.
This week, they finally return to Foxboro after a lengthy two week road trip. The Packers await, and as the line suggests, the bookies think this one will be close.
Both of these sides have played out some classics in recent years, which is only fitting considering it’s a battle between the league’s top two quarterbacks. The last time they met in 2014, it was the Packers coming out on top at Lambeau, however New England got the better of Green Bay at Gillette back in 2010.
Fast forward, and it’s safe to say that this game will once again come down to quarterback play. Green Bay can’t stop the run and New England can’t stop the pass, and of course, you don’t have to be a genius to work out who might win that battle.
Green Bay Packers (3-3-1): Are the Packers gearing up for a big run toward the playoffs?
Green Bay can take heart in the fact that they took the Rams closer to the sword than any team has this season.
It’s fair to say that if Aaron Rodgers was given a chance with 2:04 left on the clock the Packers probably would have won the game, but a terrible decision from Ty Montgomery to return the ball from Green Bay’s own endzone denied us all that special moment.
There was plenty to take away from that game though, in particular Green Bay’s running game. Aaron Jones burned the Rams for 86-yards and a score, but really, the full story here was Davante Adams.
Green Bay’s fifth year veteran toyed with Marcus Peters in the Rams’ secondary, accounting for 133-yards on the day. In case you missed it, the Patriots had trouble stopping the Bills on deep throws last week, and if the Packers can receive plenty of the ball, Rodgers might just slice them apart.
The Packers are 4-2 against New England in their last six games, while the Under has been a great play in four of them. If you’re feeling bold, take the Packers.
Tip: Back the Packers To Win
Dallas Cowboys (3-4): Looks like the Cowboys’ big win over the Jaguars a fortnight ago was all a mirage.
Returning after a bye, Dallas fell short against the Redskins in Week 7, but a lot has happened since then.
We’ll see the debut of newly acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper this week, who Dallas will be hoping can transform their ho-hum season into something more meaningful.
Really, Cooper doesn’t present as a true number one receiver, however he does give Dak Prescott a deep threat downfield, even if Cooper’s hands aren’t at all reliable.
Fortunately for Jason Garrett’s side, it doesn’t take anything special to beat the Titans. Statistically speaking, Tennessee’s defence hasn’t been all that bad, but they have recorded the sixth fewest turnovers in the league this season.
Also, you may not know it, but the Cowboys are undefeated at home this season. They also rank eighth in the league in rushing yards, so to put it simply, expect a lot of Ezekiel Elliott.
Tennessee Titans (3-4): The Titans were one bad decision away from beating the Chargers last week in London.
The decision to go for two in the dying stages of the fourth quarter is still perplexing, but even so, Tennessee could still be within reach of the AFC South crown should they win this week.
Of course, if only things were that simple. Tennessee has a range of issues on the offensive side of the ball, namely the lack of a running game led by Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis.
There’s also the simple fact that the Titans have racked up the third fewest total yards and the third fewest first downs in the league ahead of the Cardinals and Bills.
It’s tough to trust the Titans on the road this week, especially since they haven’t won, or let alone played, in Dallas since 2010.
Tip: Back the Cowboys to Beat the Line (-6.5 Points) @ $1.91
2017
It has been a huge week in the NFL and a number of massive trades are set to have a massive impact on the rest of the season.
There are plenty of crucial games spread across the weekend and every win is now vitally important as the race for positions in the postseason really starts to build.
We have analysed every game set to take place in the NFL this weekend and our complete 2017 NFL week 9 tips can be found below.
The Buffalo Bills continue to be one of the biggest revelations of the NFL season and they have now won four of their past five games.
Buffalo gave Tyrod Taylor another offensive weapon by trading third and seventh round picks in next year’s NFL Draft for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.
One issue for the Bills has been winning away from home and they have won only two of their past seven games on the road, while they are a middling 2-2-3 against the line in this scenario.
The New York Jets have hit a wall following their strong start to the season, but they have still played some excellent football in their past three defeats.
New York have won three of their past eight games as home underdogs and they are a highly profitable 6-2 against the line in this situation.
There is rarely much between these two sides when they do battle and I am keen to back the Jets with the insurance of a three point start.
Back New York To Beat The Line (+3 Points)
The New Orleans Saints are one of the form teams in the NFL and they will go into this clash on the back of five straight victories.
It has been the big improvement on defence that has seen the Saints bounce back in such emphatic fashion and they will start this clash as clear favourites.
New Orleans have won four of their past six games as home favourites and their record against the line is identical.
The pressure is on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they have won only two games this season, while their defence hit a new low against the Carolina Panthers last weekend.
The Buccaneers have won two of their past five games as away underdogs and they are 3-1-1 against the line in this situation.
There is every chance that this game could turn into a shootout and backing the Over has been a profitable betting play in games involving either of these sides this season.
Back Over 51 Points
This is another huge game in the NFC South.
It is the Carolina Panthers that will start this clash as narrow favourites after they returned to winning form against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Carolina have struggled for consistency this season and they have won only three of their six games as home favourites, while they are 1-1-4 against the line in this scenario.
Winning away from home has not been an issue for the Atlanta Falcons and they have won five of their past six games on the road for a big profit as well as four of their past six games against the Panthers.
This is a massive game for the Falcons and they can get themselves back into NFL Playoffs contention with a fighting win.
Back Atlanta To Win @ $1.95
The Los Angeles Rams will start this clash with the New York Giants as clear favourites.
Los Angeles went into the bye on the back of a big win over the Arizona Cardinals and they continue to play solid football on both sides of the ball.
The Rams have won their past two games as home favourites, but they are only a middling 3-4 against the line on the road.
New York have still recorded just the one win this season, but I continue to believe that they aren’t as bad as their record suggests.
The Giants have won two of their past three games as away underdogs for a profit and they are excellent value to record an upset win.
Back New York To Win @ $2.50
Every game is important for the Jacksonville Jaguars as they fight to return to the NFL Playoffs and they will go into this clash as clear favourites.
Winning as favourites has proven to be a big issue for the Jacksonville Jaguars – they have lost both their games as home favourites this season – and they are a very tough team to trust from a betting perspective.
The Cincinnati Bengals scored a narrow win over the Indianapolis Colts last weekend and they have now won three of their past four games.
Cininnati have lost their past four games as away underdogs, but they have won their past four meetings against the Jaguars.
This is a game that the market looks to have gotten just about right and I am more than happy to stay out from a betting perspective.
No Bet
The Philadelphia Eagles are the form team in the NFL and they head into this clash with the Denver Broncos as clear favourites.
Philadelphia have not lost since the second game of the season and their offence has been nothing short of exceptional in recent weeks.
What is already a high-powered offence is set to get even better as they traded for Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi and his explosiveness adds another dimension to their running game.
The Eagles have won seven of their past eight games as home favourites and they are 6-2 against the line in this scenario.
Quarterback problems continue to plague the Denver Broncos and they may finally make a change at the position – with Paxton Lynch staled to take over from the struggling Trevor Siemian.
Denver have won only one of their past four games as away underdogs and their record against the line is no better.
This is a game that Philadelphia should win comfortably and the line of eight points will not be enough.
Back Philadelphia To Beat The Line (-8 Points)
The Houston Texans are the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend in the NFL.
DeShaun Watson continues to be a revelation and he was almost able to lead the Texans to what would have been an important win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Houston have won four of their past five games as home favourites, but they are only 2-3 against the line in this scenario.
The Indianapolis Colts were unlucky not to get the job done against the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend, but they continue to struggle without star quarterback Andrew Luck.
Indianapolis have won three of their past eight games as away underdogs for a profit, but they are only a middling 4-4 at the line.
The Texans should win this game, but there is no value at their current price and this is a game that I am happy to stay out of.
No Bet
The Seattle Seahawks have won four of their past five games and they will go into this clash with the Washington Redskins as clear favourites.
Seattle’s offence has clicked into gear in recent weeks and they face a Washington side that has leaked plenty of points.
The Seahawks have won eight of their past nine games as home favourites and they are 5-1-3 against the line in this scenario.
Washington head into this clash on the back of a pair of defeats and they are a football team that is struggling for an identity.
The Redskins have won just one of their past five games as away underdogs and their record against the line is not much better.
Seattle can win this game comfortably and cover the line in the process.
Back Seattle To Beat The Line (-7 Points)
The San Francisco 49ers are still chasing their first win of the season and it should come as no surprise that the Arizona Cardinals will start this clash as clear favourites.
Arizona went into the bye on the back of a disgraceful performance against the Los Angeles Rams and it will be Drew Stanton that starts this clash as quarterback.
Stanton’s record with the Cardinals isn’t great nor it their record as away favourites – they have won only two of their past four games as home favourites.
The 49ers were no match for the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend and they have won just two of their past 24 games.
Both these teams are impossible to trust from a betting perspective and this is a contest that I will be staying out of.
No Bet
There is an argument to be made that this is the game of the weekend.
The Kansas City Chiefs ended their two-game losing streak with a win over the Denver Broncos on Tuesday and they will start this game as narrow favourites.
Kansas City have been nothing short of exceptional away from home over the past 12 months and they have won seven of their past eight games on the road, with an identical record against the line.
The Dallas Cowboys recorded big wins over the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins, but they will go into this game without star running back Ezekiel Elliot.
This is the first time that the Cowboys will start a home game as underdogs in over a year and they have won five of their past eight games at home, but are only 3-5 against the line.
The loss of Elliot is a big one for the Cowboys and that could prove to be the difference in an intriguing clash.
Back Kansas City To Win @ $1.85
The Oakland Raiders’ season continues to go from bad to worse, but they will still start this clash with the Miami Dolphins as clear favourites.
Oakland’s loss to Buffalo last weekend was their fifth in six weeks and they may need to win every game to have any chance of qualifying for the NFL Playoffs.
The Raiders have won only two of their past eight games on the road and their record against the line isn’t any better.
Miami made a big statement during the week by trading away Jay Ajayi and his departure does leave a genuine hole at running back.
The Dolphins have won their past five games against Oakland and they have won five of their past seven games in front of their home fans.
Taking on the Raiders has been a profitable betting play in the NFL all season long and there is no reason to jump off this week.
Back Miami To Win @ $2.40
The Minnesota Vikings have skipped clear at the top of the NFC North and both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions need to win this game to stay in touch with their rivals.
Green Bay have not won a game since Aaron Rodgers was ruled out for the rest of the season and it is tough to have any faith in them without their star quarterback in action.
The Lions have lost three games on the trot and they have had issues on both sides of the football in recent weeks.
Detroit have won three of their past seven games on the road, but their record against the line in this scenario is poor.
These are two teams that are tough to trust from a betting standpoint and I am more than happy to stay out of this fixture.
No Bet
2016
NFL Week 9 gets underway on Friday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons in a NFC South clash.
The rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers has been one of the fiercest in the NFL in recent years and their clash on Monday morning is one of the highlights of the week.
The Green Bay Packers face the Indianapolis Colts in what could be a genuine Super Bowl preview before the action concludes on Tuesday when the Buffalo Bills take on the Seattle Seahawks.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had their winning streak ended by the Oakland Raiders and they will go into this clash as clear underdogs.
The Buccaneers have generally struggled at home over the past 12 months and they have won just two of their past eight games in front of their home fans, while they are 2-6 against the line.
Atlanta returned to winning form with a narrow victory over the Green Bay Packers and they really should be able to make it two wins on the trot.
The Falcons have won four of their past eight games away from home for a narrow profit, while they are 5-3 against the line in this scenario.
Atlanta are clearly the team to beat in this clash and should be able to cover the line of four points.
Back Atlanta To Beat The Line (-4 Points)
The Dallas Cowboys are the form team in the NFL and it is no surprise that they will start this clash as clear favourites.
Dallas made it six wins on the trot with their overtime victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and they should really be too strong for the Cleveland Browns.
Dallas have won two of their past three games as away favourites and they have the same record against the line.
Cleveland are still chasing their first win of the season after going down narrowly to the New York Jets last weekend.
They have lost their past five games as home underdogs and amazingly they have an identical record against the line.
Dallas should be far too good for Cleveland and they can cover the line of seven points.
Back Dallas To Beat The Line (-7 Points)
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend.
They made it three wins on the trot with a comfortable victory over the Indianapolis Colts and they have now won their past seven games as home favourites, but are only 2-1-4 against the line in this scenario.
Jacksonville produced another very average performance against the Tennessee Titans and it is tough to see them ending their losing streak against the Chiefs.
The Jaguars have won just two of their past eight games as away underdogs for a clear loss, while they are 3-1-4 against the line in this situation.
This is a game that the market looks to have got just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting standpoint.
No Bet
The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets have both found some form in recent weeks and they have both won two games on the trot.
Miami showed plenty of fight to beat Buffalo last weekend and they will go into this clash as clear favourites.
The Dolphins have been unconvincing as home favourites over the past 12 months – they are 2-2 in head-to-head betting and are 0-4 against the line.
New York were not overly impressive against Cleveland, but they were still able to get the job done.
The Jets have won just one of their past four games as away underdogs and they have an identical record against the line.
It is extremely tough to trust either of these sides from a betting standpoint.
No Bet
This is a crucial game for both these teams as they attempt to keep in touch with the Dallas Cowboys on top of the NFC East.
New York recorded narrow wins over Baltimore and Los Angeles and they will go into this clash as narrow favourites.
The Giants are 2-2 as home favourites over the past 12 months, but they are 1-3 against the line in this scenario and have really struggled at home this season.
Philadelphia suffered a heart-breaking overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys and they are now two games behind the divisional leader.
The Eagles have won three of their past five games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they have the same record against the line.
Backing Philadelphia has been a profitable play for the majority of this season and they are great value to return to winning form.
Back Philadelphia To Win @ $2.10
The Carolina Panthers ended their losing streak with a solid win over Arizona and they are clear favourites to make it two wins on the trot.
Carolina have failed to fire for the majority of this season and their record as away favourites is particularly poor – they have won only four of their past nine games in this scenario and they are 2-7 against the line.
Los Angeles sunk to their third straight loss at the hands of the New York Giants and their playoffs hopes are quickly flying out the window.
The Rams have won two of their past five games as home underdogs for a narrow profit and they often play well against highly-ranked opposition.
I am happy to gamble on the Rams and there is definitely value at their current price of $2.35.
Back Los Angeles To Win @ $2.35
The San Francisco 49ers have now lost six games on the trot and it is no surprise that they will go into this clash as clear underdogs.
San Francisco have still actually won three of their past seven games as home underdogs for a clear profit and they are 4-3 against the line in this scenario.
New Orleans returned to winning form with an upset win over Seattle and they have now won three of their past four games.
The Saints have won just two of their past seven games as home favourites and they have an identical record against the line.
San Francisco are a better chance than their odds suggest and I am keen to back them to cover the line with a start of 3.5 points.
Back San Francisco To Beat The Line (+3.5 Points)
The San Diego Chargers went down to the Denver Broncos last weekend, but they are favourites to get the job done this weekend.
San Diego have won one of their past three games as home favourites and they have an identical record against the line.
Tennessee kept in touch with the Houston Texans in the AFC South win their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and they have now won three of their past eight games as away underdogs for a narrow profit.
I have liked the football that I have seen from the Tennessee Titans in the past few weeks and they are more than capable of upsetting San Diego at a good price.
Back Tennessee To Win @ $2.70
Defence will likely be at a premium in what I expect to be a shootout between two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Green Bay suffered another disappointing defeat against Atlanta, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites,
The Packers have not been overly dominant at Lambeau Field in the past 12 months and they are 4-4 as home favourites, while they are 3-1-4 against the line in this scenario.
The Colts were no match for Kansas City last weekend and even the Chiefs offence were able to put 30 points on the lacklustre Colts defence.
Indianapolis have won three of their past eight games as away underdogs for a narrow loss, while they are an unremarkable 3-1-4 against the line.
Green Bay are deserving favourites in this clash, but they are far too short at their current price and the Colts are a good value bet at $3.50.
Back Indianapolis To Win @ $3.50
This is a vital game that could end up deciding the winner of the AFC West.
Oakland beat Tampa Bay in overtime to take their record to 6-2 and they will start this clash with the Denver Broncos as narrow favourites.
The Raiders have been an unconvincing 2-2 as home favourites over the past 12 months and they have failed to cover the line in all four of these clashes.
Denver made it two wins in a row with a professional performance against San Diego and they look to be back on track after their mid season slip-up.
The Broncos are 1-1 as away underdogs over the past 12 months, but they did cover the line in both those games and are 6-0 against the spread when given a start.
This should be a very tight affair, but the Broncos do represent a touch of value at their current quote of $1.95.
Back Denver To Win @ $1.95
Seattle suffered an upset loss at the hands of New Orleans last weekend, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.
The Seahawks have been a tough team to catch this season, but they have still won six of their past eight games as home favourites and are 4-4 against the line in this scenario.
Buffalo were no match for the New England Patriots last weekend and they are slowly losing touch with their rivals in their race for a wildcard berth in the AFC.
The Bills have won two of their past six games as away underdogs for a loss and their record against the line is not much better.
This is a clash that the market looks to have got just about right and I am happy to stay out.
No Bet