2024 NFL Week 9 Odds and Predictions

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As we move into Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season, the playoff race begins to take shape. This week promises several solid clashes, including divisional battles and potential playoff previews. The Houston Texans kick off the action against the New York Jets on Thursday night.

The Sunday main slate brings a mix of high-stakes matchups like the Miami Dolphins visiting the Buffalo Bills and a heated NFC showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. The week wraps up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking on the Kansas City Chiefs in a fun Monday Night Football contest.

Let’s dive into the full Week 9 schedule, complete with current odds for each game. We’ll also provide NFL betting analysis for every game on the board.

2024 NFL Week 9 Schedule

NFL Week 9 Predictions

Let’s look at the NFL odds for every matchup in Week 9 and find our best bets, shall we?

Houston Texans vs. New York Jets Odds

The Texans head to New York to face the Jets in a Thursday night matchup. Houston is off to a 6-2 start, while New York has been a major disappointment. The Jets seemingly hit rock bottom with Sunday’s loss to the lowly New England Patriots. In spite of it all, the Jets are actually slight favorites in this one at MetLife Stadium.

For whatever reason, Houston hasn’t quite hit its stride in spite of the aforementioned record. Thanks to another big game from Joe Mixon, the Texans outlasted the Indianapolis Colts, 23-20, to sweep the season series in Week 8. Mixon has been a godsend since arriving in an offseason trade from the Cincinnati Bengals, averaging 4.9 yards per carry along with 5 touchdowns through 5 appearances.

The Jets have a stout run defense, which means Houston may need C.J. Stroud to get going. The passing attack was expected to be a major strength coming into the season, but it hasn’t quite panned out. An injury to Nico Collins and very shoddy offensive line play has made life difficult for Stroud in his second NFL season. He’s already taken 22 sacks through 8 games after he was sacked 38 times across 15 games last year. Houston also lost star wideout Stefon Diggs to a torn ACL, which will make things even tougher for Stroud.

The Jets, meanwhile, can’t seem to get out of their own way. The trade for Davante Adams a couple of weeks ago has done nothing to cure what looks like an underperforming offense. Aaron Rodgers has already thrown 7 interceptions, which is noteworthy considering he was never picked off more than 12 times in any season between 2009 and this year.

Another question mark is the running game, which has sputtered despite the talented 2-pronged attack of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. Hall was a big-play machine in his first 2 years in the league, but he’s averaging a paltry 3.9 yards per attempt so far in ’24.

Predictions

• Spread: Jets -1.5 (-112)
  This spread looks fishy considering Houston is clearly the better team on paper. I’d imagine most of the money will come in on Houston, but the Jets might be a sharp play.
• Moneyline: Jets -125
  I don’t mind a flier on Houston at +105, but their issues with pass protection could prove fatal in this matchup.
• Total: 42
  Thursday night games are rarely shootouts, and both offenses have underwhelmed. I’d lean toward the under.

Betting Trends

• The Jets are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 home games.
• The Texans are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games on the road.
• The total has gone under in 5 of the last 7 games for the Jets.

Prediction: Jets -1.5, Under 42
Best Bet: Jets -1.5 (-112)

Denver Broncos vs. Baltimore Ravens Odds

The Denver Broncos travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in what looks like a challenging road game. The Ravens are coming off a tough loss to the Cleveland Browns, and they’ll be looking to rebound, especially with home-field advantage. The Broncos barely broke a sweat in an easy 2-touchdown victory at home over the Carolina Panthers.

The Ravens’ loss last week was one of the more surprising results of Week 8. The dynamic offense has been able to mask the rough play of the defense so far, but that wasn’t the case on Sunday. The Ravens allowed Jameis Winston to pop off for 334 yards with 3 touchdowns, while the offense ultimately couldn’t dig its way out of a late hole.

This matchup against Denver won’t be easy for Baltimore’s offense, but look for them to get Derrick Henry going. Henry averaged a healthy 6.6 yards per carry against Cleveland, yet he was limited to just 11 attempts. Lamar Jackson was held relatively in check as a rusher (8 carries, 46 yards), as well. The Ravens did boost Jackson’s weaponry this week, however, with the addition of former Panthers wideout Diontae Johnson via trade.

Whether the Broncos’ offense can capitalize on the Ravens’ defensive woes remains to be seen. Denver is off to a surprisingly solid 5-3 start, but they’ve benefited from an easy schedule. Their wins have come over the Buccaneers, Jets, Raiders, Saints, and Panthers. This will be a stiff test for Bo Nix, who contributed 3 total touchdowns last week against Carolina. He also completed 28 of his 37 pass attempts for 284 yards in the breezy victory.

Consistency will be an issue for Denver, particularly on offense. If they can protect the ball and sustain drives, they might keep it competitive, but the Ravens’ aggressive defense could exploit their weaknesses.

Predictions

• Spread: Ravens -9 (-110)
  Baltimore is a strong home team, and they’re expected to cover a large spread against an unpredictable Broncos squad.
• Moneyline: Ravens -440
  The Ravens are monster favorites here, though there’s little value in betting on the moneyline odds.
• Total: 44.5
  This is a game with sneaky shootout potential, especially given Baltimore’s struggles on defense.

Betting Trends

• The Ravens are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
• The Broncos are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games.
• The total has gone under in 4 of the last 5 games for the Ravens.

Prediction: Ravens -9, Over 44.5
Best Bet: Over 44.5 (-110)

Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills Odds

The Miami Dolphins visit the Buffalo Bills in a crucial AFC East showdown. The Dolphins got Tua Tagovailoa back last week from his latest concussion, while the Bills went into Seattle and picked up an impressive win over the Seahawks. Buffalo is favored by a little less than a touchdown here after walloping the Dolphins back in Week 2.

Even with Tua back, Miami’s passing game continued to sputter in a surprising 28-27 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8. Tagovailoa completed 28 of his 38 passes for 234 yards, but Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for 10 catches for 117 yards. Miami will need both big-play threats to be on their game if they want to pull the upset in this one. Based on how the last game between these teams transpired, that may be a tall task.

The Bills are the class of the division, and it isn’t particularly close. Buffalo is now 6-2 with 3 straight wins coming into this one. Josh Allen – a legit MVP favorite – threw a couple of touchdown passes, while James Cook rushed for 111 yards and 2 more TDs. The Buffalo defense also forced the Seahawks into a pair of turnovers in an easy 31-10 win on the road.

This game has one of the highest over/unders of the week at 50.5 points, so there’s potential for this one to pop off. The Dolphins have too much talent on offense to continue to scuffle as much as they have, though I’d still expect Buffalo to come out on the winning side at home.

Predictions

• Spread: Bills -6 (-110)
  The Bills’ home advantage and strong defense could make it difficult for the Dolphins to cover this spread.
• Moneyline: Bills -270
  There’s moderate value in taking Miami at +220, but I don’t feel too confident.
• Total: 50.5
  With both teams capable of scoring, the over looks appealing, assuming Miami can break through Buffalo’s defense.

Betting Trends

• The Dolphins are 3-3 ATS in their last 6 road games.
• The Bills are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games at home.
• The total has gone over in 4 of Miami’s last 5 games.

Prediction: Bills -6, Over 50.5
Best Bet: Over 50.5 (-110)

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cincinnati Bengals Odds

The Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals both took tough losses in Week 8, and they’ll square off on Sunday afternoon in the Queen City. Vegas played a surprisingly competitive affair at home against the Kansas City Chiefs, while the Bengals were throttled in unexpected fashion by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Joe Burrow and the passing game is still dynamic for the Bengals, but they run the risk of being too one-dimensional. Cincy rushed for just 58 yards on 20 carries as a team on Sunday, a paltry average of 2.9 yards per attempt. Chase Brown has hardly taken off as the primary running back, while Zack Moss has struggled to generate any momentum in his first season with the team.

Still, this matchup is quite a bit more favorable on paper. The Raiders have been woeful defending the pass, so Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase could be in store for a big afternoon. We’ll see whether Tee Higgins – who missed last week’s game with a quad injury – will be healthy enough to return to the lineup.

The Raiders have lost 4 straight games after winning 2 of 4 to begin the campaign. Vegas hasn’t scored more than 20 points in any of those defeats, which isn’t all that unexpected. Gardner Minshew has been a turnover machine this season, while the Raiders are another team that can’t get anything going on the ground. Alexander Mattison carried the ball 14 times for 15 yards on Sunday, while Zamir White carried it twice and finished with negative-1 yard.

Cincinnati has lost to some beatable foes this season, but it’s hard to imagine them dropping this game at home.

Predictions

• Spread: Bengals -7.5 (-110)
  Cincinnati’s high-flying offense should be able to overcome a middling Las Vegas defense.
• Moneyline: Bengals -375
  The Bengals are solid favorites with Burrow under center, especially given the Raiders’ recent struggles.
• Total: 47
  With Cincinnati’s explosive offense, the over might be the safer play, though it depends on the Raiders’ ability to keep up.

Betting Trends

• The Bengals are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
• The Raiders are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 road games.
• The total has gone over in 3 of the last 5 games for Cincinnati.

Prediction: Bengals -7.5, Over 47
Best Bet: Bengals -7.5 (-110)

Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants Odds

Following last week’s thrilling Hail Mary win over the Chicago Bears, the Washington Commanders will look to keep the good times rolling when they face the New York Giants at the Meadowlands. Washington is arguably the NFL’s biggest surprise with a 6-2 record coming into this one, while the Giants are looking at yet another lost season. New York’s loss in Pittsburgh on Monday night dropped the G-Men to 2-6.

Just how long can New York keep trotting Daniel Jones out there? It’s not like the roster is stocked with an obvious alternative, but Jones is clearly not the team’s long-term solution at quarterback. He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since October 6th, while his next rushing TD of the year will be his first. Jones’ rushing ability used to be one of his assets, but he hasn’t gotten it going on the ground after suffering a torn ACL last season.

This will be the second meeting of the year between the NFC East rivals after the Giants fell, 21-18, back in Week 2. New York managed to lose that game despite holding the Commanders without a single touchdown. Washington’s 21 points came on 7 Austin Seibert field goals.

Washington has been one of the most lethal offenses in the sport this season thanks to the arrival of Jayden Daniels. The No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft has thrown for 1,736 yards and rushed for 424 more across his first 8 NFL games. He only has 7 touchdown passes, but – perhaps more importantly – he’s also thrown just 2 interceptions.

Given their prowess on the ground, I’d expect the Commanders to control the tempo in this one, even on the road.

Predictions

• Spread: Commanders -3.5 (-112)
  Washington is just the better team, especially on offense. I don’t think the Giants can keep up.
• Moneyline: Commanders -180
  I suppose you can take a shot on the Giants to win outright at home at +150, but this team looks legitimately broken.
• Total: 43.5
  Washington is capable of hitting the over on this by themselves. I think we’ll see points in this one.

Betting Trends

• The Giants are 3-2 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• The Commanders are 2-3 ATS in their last 5 games on the road.
• The total has gone under in 4 of Washington’s last 6 games.

Prediction: Commanders -3.5, Over 43.5
Best Bet: Commanders -3.5 (-112)

Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons Odds

Speaking of broken teams, the Dallas Cowboys will face another NFC squad this week when they face the Atlanta Falcons on the road. Dallas got plastered on Sunday Night Football by the San Francisco 49ers last week in a game that wasn’t quite as close as the final score may indicate. Atlanta went into Tampa Bay and beat the Buccaneers to sweep the season series from their NFC South rivals on Sunday afternoon.

Dallas has quite a few injuries, especially on defense. They can’t generate any sort of a pass rush with Micah Parsons sidelined, and it’s difficult to trust the defense without him. The Cowboys are also hopeless on offense thanks to the utter absence of a rushing attack. Ezekiel Elliott was the team’s leading rusher with just 10 carries for 34 yards against San Frnacisco. Dalvin Cook – who was elevated from the practice squad – finished with just 12 yards on his 6 carries. Rico Dowdle – the one running back who’s shown a pulse this season – didn’t get a single carry.

If they’re not a threat to do damage on the ground, the passing game will continue to suffer. CeeDee Lamb had a monster game on Sunday – 13 catches for 146 yards and 2 TDs – but he’s the only remotely threatening playmaker on the outside. If the Falcons can keep Lamb under wraps, the Cowboys don’t really have anybody else capable of stepping up and making them pay.

The Falcons improved to 5-3 with that 31-26 win in Tampa Bay last week. A major bright spot was tight end Kyle Pitts, a former first-round pick who hasn’t quite panned out in 2-plus NFL seasons. Pitts had a huge day on Sunday, catching 4 passes for 91 yards with a couple of touchdowns.

The key for Atlanta in this game will be the run game. Dallas has struggled to stop the run all year, so don’t be surprised if Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, or both have big games in this one. I love the value in Atlanta at home here given the tight spread.

Predictions

• Spread: Falcons -2.5 (-112)
  Atlanta’s home performance gives them a slight edge to cover in a close game. This spread is too small given how poorly the Cowboys have played on both sides of the football.
• Moneyline: Falcons -142
  The Falcons are hard to trust, but I still see no reason not to take the value and run at -142 on the moneyline.
• Total: 52.5
  This is a sky-high total. The game will take place in a dome, but I’m not sure how much the one-dimensional Cowboys offense will help the over. The under looks a little more likely.

Betting Trends

• The Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against the Falcons.
• The Falcons are 3-3 ATS in their last 6 home games.
• The total has gone over in 5 of the last 7 games for Atlanta.

Prediction: Falcons -2.5, Over 52.5
Best Bet: Falcons -2.5 (-112)

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cleveland Browns Odds

The Los Angeles Chargers travel to Cleveland to visit the Browns in a matchup featuring two teams with playoff aspirations. The Chargers’ offense, led by Justin Herbert, has struggled for consistency, while Cleveland’s defense has been a bright spot. This game could hinge on which team can control the pace and limit mistakes.

Both teams picked up wins last week. The Chargers demolished the injury-ravaged New Orleans Saints at home, while the Browns recorded a shocking home win over the Ravens.

After flailing offensively with Deshaun Watson under center, the Browns looked transformed last week with Jameis Winston starting at quarterback. Jameis threw for over 300 yards with 3 TDs with 2nd-year receiver Cedric Tillman leading the way with 7 catches for 99 yards and 2 scores. They’ll face a tough test this week against a Chargers defense that has been among the NFL’s best early in the year.

Under Jim Harbaugh, the Bolts want to control the clock with the run game and shut teams down with their stout defense. However, we’re starting to see the passing game come around. Justin Herbert threw for more than 300 yards in Week 7, while he connected with Ladd McConkey for 2 touchdown passes in last week’s win over New Orleans.

This game could legitimately go either way. It’s difficult to know what to expect from the Browns, but I think they’re a stellar value as home underdogs.

Predictions

• Spread: Browns +2 (-110)
  The Chargers are improved this season, but I don’t think they’re the kind of team that should be a road favorite against a decent opponent. Cleveland is better than their 2-6 record indicates.
• Moneyline: Browns +105
  In a game that can be described as a toss-up, I’ll side with the team at plus-money odds at home.
• Total: 42.5
  This looks like a good under with the way the Chargers prefer lower-scoring ames.

Betting Trends

• The Browns are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
• The Chargers are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 road games.
• The total has gone under in 4 of the last 5 games for Cleveland.

Prediction: Browns +2, Under 42.5
Best Bet: Browns ML (+105)

New England Patriots vs. Tennessee Titans Odds

Uh, yikes! The New England Patriots picked up a rare win last week over the similarly hapless New York Jets, while the Tennessee Titans were absolutely blasted in Detroit by the Lions. This game has one of the lowest over/lunders of Week 9 at just 38 points, and justifiably so. These teams are horrible, particularly on offense.

Mason Rudolph has been starting at QB for Tennessee with Will Levis nursing a shoulder injury. Rudolph likely isn’t any worse than Levis, but it’s not like the offense is any good either way. The Titans haven’t cracked 20 points in any of their last 3 games, and last week’s trade of DeAndre Hopkins to Kansas City isn’t going to improve their prospects moving forward.

The Pats had to turn back to Jacoby Brissett after rookie quarterback Drake Maye went down with a concussion. Whether he’ll be healthy enough to start this week remains to be seen. While New England hasn’t enjoyed much success since turning to Maye, the first-year QB has been a bright spot.

I think the best way to attack this game is to bet the under and then forget about it altogether.

Predictions

• Spread: Titans -3.5 (-112)
  Tennessee’s run game and home-field advantage make them the slight favorite to cover.
• Moneyline: Titans -180
  The Titans’ consistency on the ground gives them an edge at home.
• Total: 38
  These teams can’t score, so bet that under.

Betting Trends

• The Patriots are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
• The Titans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games at home.
• The total has gone under in 6 of Tennessee’s last 8 games.

Prediction: Titans -3.5, Under 38
Best Bet: Under 38 (-110)

New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers Odds

The New Orleans Saints welcome the Carolina Panthers to the Big Easy for an NFC South matchup. The Saints absolutely plastered the Panthers when they met back in Week 1. New Orleans won that one 47-10, but something tells me they’re not going to do that again in this one.

New Orleans has dropped 6 straight games on the heels of a promising 2-0 start that now feels like ancient history. There’s a chance Carr will return for this game. If he doesn’t, though, rookie QB Spencer Rattler may draw another start in this one. Early returns have not been promising. Rattler completed just half of his throws for 156 yards as the Saints mustered just 8 points on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Of course, things aren’t much better for the Panthers. After a brief dalliance with Andy Dalton, Carolina went back to Bryce Young as the QB1 last week in Denver. Young finished the game with 24 completions on 37 attempts for 224 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

Unfortunately, things won’t get any easier for him moving forward now that Diontae Johnson has been traded to the Ravens. With Adam Thielen already out injured, Young will have to rely on inexperienced receivers like Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette. That’ll put even more pressure on Chuba Hubbard to carry the offense, though Hubbard hasn’t gotten much going in either of the last 2 games.

The over/under of 43.5 points looks way too high. The Saints’ offense should look quite a bit better if Carr returns, but I expected this total to be in the 30s.

Predictions

• Spread: Panthers +7 (-110)
  This spread isn’t crazy if Carr plays, but it’s too early in the week to know. As of now, I’d lean toward taking Carolina to cover such a large spread.
• Moneyline: Saints -325
  The Panthers are a solid value if Carr remains out.
• Total: 43.5
  Under! Under! Under!

Betting Trends

• The Saints are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games.
• The Panthers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games on the road.
• The total has gone under in 5 of the last 7 games for Carolina.

Prediction: Panthers +7, Under 43.5
Best Bet: Under 43.5 (-110)

Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals Odds

The Chicago Bears visit the Arizona Cardinals in a matchup of two young teams looking to build momentum. Chicago has been inconsistent on offense but has shown flashes of potential. Arizona, on the other hand, has struggled to find rhythm, especially against tougher defenses. This game could go either way, with both teams looking to break through offensively.

The Cardinals have won back-to-back games with victories over the Chargers and Dolphins. Kyler Murray is one of the game’s most divisive QBs, but he’s extremely difficult to stop when he’s on his game. On the season, Murray has completed better than 67 percent of his throws for 1,638 yards and 11 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions. He’s also rushed 41 times for 344 yards with 2 more TDs.

The Bears lost in heartbreaking fashion thanks to a Hail Mary pass from Jayden Daniels on the final play of Sunday’s game. Chicago’s 3-game winning streak was snapped in the process. Caleb Williams threw for a career-high 4 touchdowns a couple of weeks ago in a blowout win over the Jaguars, but he came crashing back to earth last week. The No. 1 overall pick completed just 10 of his 24 passes for 131 yards without a touchdown against an exploitable Washington defense.

Fortunately for the Bears, they have finally gotten the ground game cooking. D’Andre Swift had another big game against the Commanders, carrying the ball 18 times for 129 yards and a touchdown. Swift has topped 90 rushing yards in 3 of 4 games and scored in 4 straight games since being held to lower than 3 yards per carry across his first 3 games of the campaign.

I think the total is too low here. The Arizona offense has kicked it into gear, while the Bears look like a good bet to bounce back against the Cardinals’ lackluster defense. This game will also take place in a dome, which is generally favorable for scoring. Over!

Predictions

• Spread: Cardinals +1 (-115)
  These teams are fairly evenly-matched, but I’ll side with the home team.
• Moneyline: Cardinals (-105)
  As was the case with the Browns, I’ll take the extra value with the home team in a game that could legitimately go either way.
• Total: 44.5
  Both offenses have been up and down, making the over a slightly safer play if they can both find footing.

Betting Trends

• The Bears are 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• The Cardinals are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 home games.
• The total has gone over in 4 of Chicago’s last 6 games.

Prediction: Cardinals +1, Over 44.5
Best Bet: Over 44.5 (-110)

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles Odds

The Jacksonville Jaguars head to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Philadelphia Eagles. These teams appear to be headed in different directions. The Jags fell to 2-6 with a narrow 3-point loss to the Packers last week, while the Birds destroyed the Bengals, 37-17, in a shockingly lopsided affair. Philly hasn’t been consistent, but they have reeled off 3 straight wins to improve to 5-2 since a shaky start.

Jalen Hurts was the story on Sunday, as he accounted for 4 touchdowns. He connected with DeVonta Smith on a long TD strike while adding 3 more scores on the ground. Saquon Barkley had another big day of his own, carrying the ball 22 times for 108 yards. He’s proven to be a terrific addition to what was already an extremely talented offense, though Hurts is still the man when it comes to goal-line situations.

The Jaguars can’t seem to get over the hump, though they have looked a bit more competitive in recent weeks. You don’t get extra credit for just being competitive, though, especially if you still wind up losing every week. Jacksonville’s passing game has been particularly inconsistent, and now injuries are piling up. Christian Kirk will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, while rookie standout Brian Thomas Jr. is likely to be sidelined for a few weeks with a chest issue.

As a result, it’s easy to see why Philadelphia is such a huge favorite at home. I’m not yet buying the Eagles as Super Bowl contenders out of the NFC, but they should have little issue trampling the Jags here.

Predictions

• Spread: Eagles -7.5 (-110)
  Philadelphia’s home-field advantage and balanced attack should help them cover a large spread.
• Moneyline: Eagles -340
  With Philadelphia’s control over the game at home, they’re the strong favorites to win outright.
• Total: 45.5
  Given the Eagles’ defense, the under may be the safer option, especially with Jacksonville’s offensive inconsistencies.

Betting Trends

• The Eagles are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
• The Jaguars are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 road games.
• The total has gone under in 4 of the last 5 games for Philadelphia.

Prediction: Eagles -7.5, Under 45.5
Best Bet: Eagles -7.5 (-110)

Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers Odds

This looks like the game of the week. The Detroit Lions visit the Green Bay Packers in an NFC North matchup. The NFC North is an absolute juggernaut of a division this year, and these will ultimately prove to be the 2 best teams. Detroit improved to 6-1 with a 52-14 destruction of the Titans over the weekend, while the Packers squeaked past the Jaguars in Jacksonville.

The big question looming over this game is the status of Jordan Love. He left Sunday’s game with a strained groin, though a postgame MRI didn’t show any significant damage. Love missed a couple of games earlier this season with an MCL sprain, and the Packers don’t yet know whether he’ll be healthy enough to suit up this week.

If he doesn’t, we’ll see a third start of the year for backup Malik Willis. Willis won both of his starts for Green Bay earlier in the year with Love sidelined, though the Packers predictably didn’t put too much on his plate. If Love is out, expect the Packers to try and slow the game down with Josh Jacobs and the rushing attack.

The Lions sure look like not only the best team in the NFC North, but arguably the league as a whole. Detroit has rattled off 5 straight victories since a surprising loss at home to Tampa Bay in Week 2. This team has gamebreaking threats all over the field, and we saw quite a bit of that against Tennessee last week. Jared Goff only had to throw for 85 yards with the game having already been decided well ahead of halftime. Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, and Kalif Raymond all found paydirt in an incredibly easy win.

I like the Lions either way, but the line will shift more heavily in their direction if Love winds up missing this game. Get in on the Lions now while the spread is still relatively short.

Predictions

• Spread: Lions -3.5 (-105)
  Detroit’s high-powered offense gives them the edge to cover, even on the road.
• Moneyline: Lions -175
  With their offense clicking, Detroit is the favorite, though Green Bay’s home-field could make it close.
• Total: 48.5
  Both teams can score, so the over could be a good option here.

Betting Trends

• The Lions are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games.
• The Packers are 2-3 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• The total has gone over in 5 of Detroit’s last 7 games.

Prediction: Lions -3.5, Over 48.5
Best Bet: Lions -3.5 (-105)

Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks Odds

The Los Angeles Rams will fly to Seattle to face the Seahawks in a pivotal NFC West matchup. The Rams picked up a nice win at home over the Minnesota Vikings last week, while the Seahawks disappointed in a 21-point loss at home to Buffalo.

LA has had a rough start to the year, but things are looking up. Both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua returned from their respective injuries last week, and the offense predictably bounced back. Nacua caught 7 passes for 106 yards, while Kupp hauled in 5 for 51 yards and a TD. Matthew Stafford threw 4 touchdowns in the win, with 2 to Demarcus Robinson.

The Seahawks are now 4-4 on the year, which is quite a drop considering they started the season a perfect 3-0. DK Metcalf missed Sunday’s game with a knee injury, and his status for this one is uncertain. If he’s out, Geno Smith will presumably pepper Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba with more targets. Unfortunately for Seattle, those receivers don’t present nearly as many matchup issues as Metcalf does for opposing defensive backfields.

I understand why Seattle is favored at home, but the Rams look like the healthier and better football team as of now. If they can control the clock with Kyren Williams and the ground game, I like their chances of winning this thing outright as underdogs.

Predictions

• Spread: Rams +1.5 (-108)
  Seattle always has a distinct home-field advantage, but a veteran-heavy Rams team should know how to deal with potential adversity.
• Moneyline: Rams +102
  Another toss-up, so take the value you get with the slight underdog.
• Total: 48.5
  With both teams capable of scoring, the over is an appealing choice here.

Betting Trends

• The Seahawks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• The Rams are 3-3 ATS in their last 6 games.
• The total has gone over in 5 of Seattle’s last 7 home games.

Prediction: Rams +1.5, Over 48.5
Best Bet: Rams ML (+102)

Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings Odds

The Sunday Night Football clash could be a fun one. After a dismal effort in last week’s loss to Houston, the Indianapolis Colts have made the decision to bench QB Anthony Richardson. This is a fairly surprising choice considering Richardson has only started 8 NFL games, but backup Joe Flacco surely gives them the better chance to win right now. Flacco impressed as the starter earlier in the year when Richardson was down with an injury, and he’ll get a crack at it when the Colts take on the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis.

Indianapolis is still live for a playoff berth, which likely expedited their decision to bench Richardson. This offense has quite a few useful weapons between Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, and Josh Downs, and Richardson’s lack of accuracy was dragging the whole unit down. In spot duty earlier in the year, Flacco completed nearly 66 percent of his throws with 7 touchdowns to just 1 interception.

The Vikings have dropped each of their last 2 games after a stirring 5-0 start. Whether they can hang with teams like Detroit and Green Bay in the hyper-competitive NFC North may hinge on whether Sam Darnold can keep improving. Darnold got off to a terrific start to the season, and he certainly wasn’t to blame for Minnesota’s shortcoming last week in Los Angeles.

Aaron Jones only averaged 3.1 yards per carry in that game, and re-establishing the ground game will go a long way toward determining their fate. The former Packer has averaged a stellar 4.8 yards per carry in his first season with the Vikings, and he’s in a great bounce-back spot here against a Colts defense that has really struggled to stop the run all season.

Predictions

• Spread: Colts +5 (-110)
  Replacing Richardson with Flacco will instantly boost the Colts’ offense, and I think this spread is too wide as a result.
• Moneyline: Colts +185
  I’m not fully sold on the Colts’ chances to win this one outright, but they’re better than the +185 moneyline odds indicate.
• Total: 46.5
  The over looks like the play in a dome game featuring playmakers on both sides. The line is even juiced to the under.

Betting Trends

• The Vikings are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
• The Colts are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 road games.
• The total has gone over in 4 of Minnesota’s last 6 games.

Prediction: Colts +5, Over 46.5
Best Bet: Over 46.5 (-108)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs Odds

The final game of the Week 9 slate is a clash between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. This is a rematch of Super Bowl LV, a game the Bucs won 31-9 with Tom Brady under center. Tampa Bay is dealing with a rash of injuries, while Kansas City remains undefeated.

The Chiefs were tested last week in Las Vegas, but they ultimately emerged with a 27-20 win on the road. Patrick Mahomes was excellent, throwing for 262 yards and a couple of touchdowns. He’s still thrown more interceptions (9) than TDs (8) on the season, however, which makes the Chiefs’ 7-0 start even more impressive.

With a rash of injuries to playmakers, Kansas City has relied heavily on Travis Kelce to keep the offense afloat. The future Hall of Famer was a handful for the Raiders, as he finished that game with 10 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. He’ll be a matchup issue for a Bucs defense that was gashed by another tight end – Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts – in Week 8.

Tampa Bay put up a fight but fell just short last week against the Falcons. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were both sidelined for that game, and neither will be on the field this week, either. Baker Mayfield still threw for 330 yards with 3 touchdowns, however, with tight end Cade Otton delivering a standout performance. Otton caught a season-high 9 passes for 81 yards and 2 TDs, while Bucky Irving and Rachaad White combined for 12 receptions out of the backfield.

The Chiefs will be put to the test again this week, but I’m not sure the Bucs have enough offensive firepower to keep pace. Take Kansas City to keep it rolling at home, but there’s value on Tampa Bay to cover.

Predictions

• Spread: Buccaneers +8.5 (-112)
  The Chiefs are still perfect, but they haven’t exactly passed the eye test with flying colors. The 8.5-point spread is too big.
• Moneyline: Chiefs -455
  The Chiefs are heavy favorites at home with their potent offense.
• Total: 45
  Kansas City’s scoring potential makes the over a reasonable play, though Tampa’s offensive inconsistency could impact it.

Betting Trends

• The Chiefs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
• The Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
• The total has gone over in 5 of Kansas City’s last 6 games at home.

Prediction: Buccaneers +8.5, Over 45
Best Bet: Buccaneers +8.5 (-108)

NFL Week 9 Best Bets

After analyzing the Week 9 matchups, here are our top betting picks:

• Indianapolis Colts +5
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers +8.5
• Arizona Cardinals Moneyline (-105)

Each of these bets offers value as standalone wagers, but combining them into a parlay can create the opportunity for a much larger payout. A $100 parlay on these three bets would return approximately $595 if they all hit. You can choose to bet on these individually or go for the higher payout with a Week 9 parlay.