Betting
10/31/24
11 min read
2024 NFL Week 9: Expert Picks, Predictions For Every Game
There are some unbelievable matchups going into NFL Week 9, with several big divisional battles happening in the NFC.
We also have two primetime games with all four teams with records of .500 or better. This projects to be one of the better weeks of NFL action, and we've got all of the lines and our predictions for this great slate of games:
NFL Week 9 Expert Picks
Houston Texans (6-2) vs. New York Jets (2-6)
Spread: Jets -2
Total: 42
It seems unfathomable that the New York Jets can be a 2-point favorite over the 6-2 Houston Texans, but here we are. The Texans will be without their top two receivers (Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs) and will rely on Tank Dell to do the heavy lifting in the receiving game. Houston has also had major issues holding up in pass protection as C.J. Stroud is fighting for his life on nearly every snap.
And yet, it’s hard to pick against them, considering how poorly the Jets have played on both sides of the ball this season. Maybe the short week will benefit the Jets, but they are the much older team and are coming off a tough loss to the Patriots in Week 8. We’ll side with the Texans, but don’t expect this to be a high-scoring game at all.
Score Prediction: Texans 20, Jets 16
Washington Commanders (6-2) vs. New York Giants (2-6)
Spread: Commanders -3.5
Total: 43.5
The Washington Commanders had one of the most exciting wins you’ll ever see in Week 8, beating the Bears on a Hail Mary. But this will be the first divisional test for the upstart Commanders as they head to New Jersey to take on the New York Giants.
The Giants are coming off a Monday Night Football loss to the Steelers and could be without lead running back Tyrone Tracy, who left the game early with a concussion. With a failing offensive line, this is just a bad matchup for the Giants. Take the Commanders to get the win against the Giants in Week 9 and to do so in convincing fashion.
Score Prediction: Commanders 30, Giants 17
Miami Dolphins (2-5) vs. Buffalo Bills (6-2)
Spread: Bills -6.5
Total: 50
These two teams faced off in Week 2 of the NFL season, and the Buffalo Bills got the decisive win on Thursday Night Football. Late in that game, Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion that caused him to miss four games, but he has since returned to the field and looked pretty good against the Cardinals. He should look even better in Week 9, but this is a tough matchup on the road for the Miami Dolphins.
Miami can put up points in this game, but its defense will have a hard time stopping Josh Allen and the Bills. Buffalo has been unstoppable on offense in the last few weeks, and it is still trying to find ways to get Amari Cooper involved. Look for this to be a shootout in Buffalo, with the Bills getting a narrow win.
Score Prediction: Bills 30, Dolphins 27
Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) vs. Cleveland Browns (2-6)
Spread: Chargers -2
Total: 42.5
This is one of the better matchups on the 1:00 PM ET slate, with the Los Angeles Chargers being a slight favorite in Cleveland. However, this is not a great matchup for the Chargers, as the Cleveland Browns can get after the quarterback and have the cornerbacks to match up with the Chargers' lackluster receiving corps.
It also doesn’t hurt that the Browns have plenty of experience playing against Greg Roman’s offense, so don’t expect the Chargers to have a big day on that side of the ball.
The big story will be if Jameis Winston can continue to make plays downfield like he did last week against Baltimore. He doesn’t need to be perfect, but hitting a few deep shots should be enough for them to win this game.
We like the Browns to cover and win as a home dog this week, especially with the Chargers having to travel across the country and play an early game.
Score Prediction: Browns 23, Chargers 20
Denver Broncos (5-3) vs. Baltimore Ravens (5-3)
Spread: Ravens -9
Total: 45.5
The Denver Broncos are one of the league’s most surprising teams, winning five of their last six games. They’ve done it on defense, and Bo Nix has progressed pretty steadily. This is a tough matchup for the Broncos, as the Baltimore Ravens are one of the better teams in the league, but you can move the ball against their defense.
The question is, can the Broncos stop the Ravens from scoring 20+ points? Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry might be the best quarterback-running back duo in the league, and you can only contain them for so long. Look for this to be a close contest, but for the Ravens to pull out a gritty win at home against a rookie quarterback.
Score Prediction: Ravens 23, Broncos 20
Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)
Spread: Bengals -7.5
Total: 46.5
The Cincinnati Bengals have to be one of the league’s most disappointing teams. Joe Burrow is playing at an unreal level, and yet, they have fallen to 3-5 this season. Their defense was awful against the Eagles, but this is a chance for them to bounce back and save their season. With a Thursday Night Football game looming against the Ravens in Week 10, the Bengals need this win to get back in the playoff hunt.
The Las Vegas Raiders can be a tough out most weeks, and this seems like the type of matchup where Gardner Minshew can thrive. Pass on the Bengals to cover the 7.5-point spread, but take them to win this game outright and improve to 4-5 on the season.
Score Prediction: Bengals 23, Raiders 20
New Orleans Saints (2-6) vs. Carolina Panthers (1-7)
Spread: Saints -7
Total: 43.5
Derek Carr is expected to return to the starting lineup in Week 9, which is great news for the New Orleans Saints. Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener couldn't generate any offense, resulting in several blowout losses.
Carr will likely be pretty rusty after missing the last few weeks with an oblique injury, but they should have no problem outscoring the Carolina Panthers. As long as Carr can hit a few big plays downfield, this should be an easy win for New Orleans. Take the Saints to win and cover in this NFC South battle.
Score Prediction: Saints 24, Panthers 16
New England Patriots (2-6) vs. Tennessee Titans (1-6)
Spread: Titans -3.5
Total: 38
It’s a little surprising to see the Tennessee Titans favored by 3.5 points over anyone, but that line certainly suggests that Jacoby Brissett will get the start at quarterback for the New England Patriots. Drake Maye left last week’s game with a concussion, and New England is likely to be overly cautious with its rookie quarterback.
Brissett is a big downgrade over Maye, but 3.5 points is far too many for a 1-6 team. Take the Patriots +3.5, and don’t be surprised if they win this game outright. Their defense is capable of holding the Titans under 20 points, which will give them an excellent chance to steal this game.
Score Prediction: Patriots 20, Titans 17
Dallas Cowboys (3-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
Spread: -2.5
Total: 52
Until the Dallas Cowboys get back Micah Parsons and Daron Bland, it will be hard to predict that they will win many games. Their defense just doesn’t have the talent to go toe-to-toe with the league's best offenses, and their offense isn’t as explosive as it was a year ago.
This is a must-win game for the Cowboys to avoid going 3-5, but Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons are just a much better team. Look for Atlanta to run the ball early and often on Sunday, helping it secure the win.
Score Prediction: Falcons 31, Cowboys 23
Chicago Bears (4-3) vs. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)
Spread: Cardinals -1
Total: 44.5
Will the Chicago Bears have a Hail Mary hangover after last week? Or will they bounce back and get a much-needed win against the Arizona Cardinals? Betting against Kyler Murray is difficult because he is so dynamic, and the Cardinals have playmakers galore around him.
However, Arizona’s pass rush might be the worst in the league, and it’s difficult for it to get stops against quality opponents. Look for this to be a really tight contest, but for Chicago’s talent to overwhelm Arizona on offense. Take the Bears to win outright against the Cardinals.
Score Prediction: Bears 26, Cardinals 24
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
Spread: Eagles -7.5
Total: 46
The Jacksonville Jaguars have lost a lot of talent in the last week, including two receivers (Brian Thomas Jr., Christian Kirk) and their starting left tackle (Cam Robinson) due to a trade. Sitting at 2-6, it’s tough to see them having any success against the Philadelphia Eagles, who look like a real juggernaut in the NFC.
The Jaguars still have some talent left on defense, but this isn’t a game where they match up well with their opponent. Look for the Eagles to continue to roll and win the fourth-straight game on Sunday.
Score Prediction: Eagles 27, Jaguars 17
Detroit Lions (6-1) vs. Green Bay Packers (6-2)
Spread: Lions -3.5
Total: 48.5
This is the game of the week, as the winner will be in first place in the NFC North. The Detroit Lions are 3.5-point favorites, which suggests that Jordan Love might not play in Week 9 due to a groin injury. His status is very much in question after he left Sunday's game against the Jaguars and did not return.
The Lions are the safe bet regardless of whether Love plays due to their balanced offense, but it remains to be seen how that unit can perform outdoors and on grass.
The Green Bay Packers have one of the league's best defenses and should be able to slow them down some but look for the Lions to find a way to score 24+ points on Sunday. That should be enough to get the win, even if Love is less than 100 percent on the field.
Score Prediction: Lions 27, Packers 23
Los Angeles Rams (3-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
Spread: Rams -2
Total: 48.5
This is suddenly a huge game in the NFC West, and the winner could position themselves well to steal the division heading into Week 10. The Los Angeles Rams are getting healthier with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp back on the field. With 10 days rest, this is a great spot for the Rams to get back to .500 on the season.
It remains unclear if DK Metcalf (knee) will play this week, and that is a huge storyline as the Rams don’t have anyone on their roster who can slow him down. If he is out for Week 9, the Rams are an easy pick on the spread and the money line. And that’s the way we are leaning now in this really fun divisional matchup.
Score Prediction: Rams 27, Seahawks 23
Indianapolis Colts (4-4) vs. Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
Spread: Vikings -5
Total: 46.5
Well, this game looks a whole lot different now that Joe Flacco is starting in place of Anthony Richardson. Flacco looked excellent in his limited time under center and can deliver passes accurately to all of the Indianapolis Colts' offensive weapons.
However, he has also struggled to deal with pressure, and you can bet that Brian Flores will blitz him often on Sunday Night Football. The Colts should be able to hit a few big plays, but their defense doesn’t have the pieces to match up with the Minnesota Vikings. Look for Sam Darnold to have a huge day and for the Vikings to win and cover in primetime.
Score Prediction: Vikings 27, Colts 21
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
Spread: -9
Total: 45.5
This game looked a whole lot more exciting two weeks ago when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were healthy, but neither will be available this week, which is a major concern for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the top defenses in the NFL and can shut down opposing run games.
The Bucs will need Baker Mayfield to play one of the best games of his career to steal this one, but without any reliable weapons, that seems unlikely. Look for the Chiefs to take care of business at home in primetime but to fail to cover the 9-point spread.
Score Prediction: Chiefs 26, Buccaneers 20
