NFL Week 9 Picks: Best Bets, Parlays & Predictions

Week 9 of the NFL season delivers heavyweight matchups and playoff-caliber tension, headlined by a Sunday afternoon showdown between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, as the Chiefs visit the Bills on CBS.

Thursday Night Football features Lamar Jackson’s return as the Ravens travel to Miami to face the Dolphins on Prime Video.

Sunday Night Football sees the Seahawks host the Commanders in a cross-conference clash on NBC, while Monday Night Football wraps the week with the Cowboys hosting the Cardinals on ABC and ESPN.

Four teams get the week off: Cleveland, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay.

Notable NFL Week 9 Odds

Rams -14.5 vs. Saints – Los Angeles is the heaviest favorite on the board. The Saints have looked sickening for much of the season, while the Rams have played well and they are coming off their bye.

Chiefs -2 at Bills – Marquee matchup of the week. Mahomes vs. Allen IX. Kansas City’s defense continues to play well but bettors still expect a high-scoring game. The total opened at 51.5 and that signals a potential shootout.

Ravens -7.5 at Dolphins – Thursday Night spotlight. Lamar Jackson’s return boosts Baltimore’s line. Dolphins normally play poorly in prime-time games. The total sits at 50.

Cardinals at Cowboys (Over 54) – Highest total of the week. Dallas has scored 30+ in four straight home games, while Arizona’s defense ranks bottom five in red zone efficiency. Books expect fireworks on Monday night.

Texans -1.5 vs. Broncos – Tightest spread. Houston has quietly started to play better but the Denver defense is good. The Texans are getting sharp money and actually listed as the betting favorite.

Biggest favorite: Rams -14.5 (vs. Saints)
Tightest spread: Texans -1.5 (vs. Broncos)
Highest total: Cardinals-Cowboys 54
Lowest total: Broncos-Texans 39.5
Most ticketed team: Chiefs (public lean continues)

NFL Week 9 Best Bets

It was break even with the best bets last week, as I went 2-2 against the NFL betting pointspread with the predictions, as the Jets and Dolphins won outright, while the Vikings and Saints were blown out.

As a reminder, when it comes to NFL best bets each week you should know that I go against the grain with almost all of my picks. If the public does well, then I will probably struggle, but if the public loses, then I will probably have a good week. Let’s look at Week 9 NFL predictions.

Tennessee Titans +10 vs. Los Angeles Chargers

I guess I better get used to the public going against the Titans each week. This is simply a bad Tennessee team, but the Chargers are usually not a trustworthy favorite. I’ll go against the public and take the Titans plus the points.

Atlanta Falcons +5 at New England Patriots

The public is on board the New England express and backing the Patriots again this week. Atlanta is not a bad team so maybe they can stay close. I will go against the public and take Atlanta plus the points.

Minnesota Vikings +9 at Detroit Lions

The public likes the Lions this week but Minnesota is still a good team and at least they get a healthy quarterback this week with McCarthy returning. I will go against the public and take the Vikings plus the points.

Las Vegas Raiders +3 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

I am not sure why the public is taking Jacksonville this week. The Jaguars are completely unreliable and I don’t think the Raiders are a terrible team. I will go against the public and take the Raiders plus the points.

Pittsburgh Steelers +3 vs. Indianapolis Colts

Going against the Colts is definitely dangerous, as Indianapolis looks like a serious contender in the AFC. The public is onboard with the Colts so that means I take the Steelers plus the points.

Arizona Cardinals +2.5 vs. Dallas Cowboys

The public is all over the Cowboys in this game and yet the line has moved toward Arizona. That usually means the wise guys are on the Cardinals, but this is a weird game. I am a bit leery, but I will still back the Cardinals plus the points.

NFL Week 9 Parlays

It was a nice beginning for me with the parlays last week, as the power parlay came through in flying colors, as the Bills, Colts and Chiefs won and covered easily. The marquee parlay did not win, but I’ll take a 1-1 with the parlays every single week, as that means a nice return.

Commanders +3.5 vs. Seahawks and Saints +14.5 vs. Rams – I should call this the leftover parlay, as these two plays easily could have gone into the best bet section, as the public is all over the Seahawks and Rams this week. I’ll take the points in this parlay and go with Washington and New Orleans.
Texans -1.5 vs. Broncos and Cardinals +2.5 vs. Cowboys – You can call this the don’t make sense parlay, as I have no idea why the Texans are favored against the Broncos and why is Arizona catching less than a field goal on the road at Dallas? These make no sense, but the oddsmakers probably know something, so I will take the Texans and Cardinals in this parlay.