NFL Week 9 Betting Picks

Favorites prevailed by the narrowest of margins in Week 8 of the NFL season, going 8-7 ATS, but underdogs still rewarded bettors with five SU upset victories. A total of 12 teams kick off the second half of their season schedule this weekend, while five of the week’s 13 matchups feature an early home underdog. Here is a sneak peek at this weekend’s NFL betting picks.

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers

Game Line: New Orleans -2.5 | OU 48

The 3-4-0 Saints finally lived up to preseason expectations with a decisive 44-23 win over Green Bay in Week 8, covering as two-point favorites. The win was the Saints’ 11^th straight at home, 9-1-1 ATS. But, while they travel to Carolina as slim favorites in NFL online betting, the Saints have been a huge disappointment on the road, 2-10 SU and 3-9 ATS in their last 12.

Fortunately for New Orleans, the 3-4-1 Panthers have been equally bad, with just one SU win in their last six while posting a combined 26 points in their last two outings, including a mere two TDs. Both majors were scored late in a 38-17 blowout loss to Green Bay, in which Packers QB Aaron Rodgers exploded for three TD passes and 255 passing yards. With Saints QB Drew Brees showing dominant mid-season form and first place in the NFC South on the line, look for the Saints to continue the strong play they demonstrated last week against the Packers.

Free Pick: Take New Orleans and give the points. New Orleans 31-19

San Diego Chargers @ Miami Dolphins

Game Line: Miami -1.5 | OU 44

Following a fast 5-1 start that vaulted them to top spot in the AFC West and garnered QB Philip Rivers early MVP consideration, the San Diego Chargers have struggled in a pair of SU and ATS losses, and visit Miami as 1.5-point underdogs on the NFL betting lines. After averaging over 395 total yards in their five wins, the Chargers have produced just 278 total yards per game in their last two with Rivers held to under 229 passing yards per game. But despite the lack of yardage, Rivers still connected for five TDs in their two recent losses, making up for one of the NFL’s worst rushing games and posing a serious threat against a Dolphins squad that looked ordinary in a 27-13 win over Jacksonville last weekend.

The win was the Dolphins’ third in their last four, SU and ATS. But while Miami has used the NFL’s weaklings as punching bags, posting wins against the Jags, Oakland and Chicago, they have been unable to keep pace in recent outings against quality opponents, losing SU and ATS to Buffalo, KC and Green Bay.

Free Pick: Take San Diego and the points. San Diego 26-19

Washington Redskins @ Minnesota Vikings

Game Line: Washington -1 | OU 44.5

Just as it appeared that their season had spiralled out of control, the Redskins responded with back-to-back SU wins, including a 20-17 OT upset win on Monday night that ended the red-hot Dallas Cowboys’ six-game winning streak. The Skins, with QB Robert Griffin III back at the helm, have been rewarded for their recent gritty performances in this week’s NFL betting odds, pegged as one-point road favorites.

Despite their recent success, the Skins have struggled to produce offense without RG3, averaging just 18 points per game in their last five, but face a Vikings squad that has been equally challenged offensively, with just over 12 points per game in their last four, in which they are 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS. While the Vikes defense has held opposing QBs to under 165 passing yards in three of their last four, they will need far more from rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater, who has just two TDs against five picks in his first five outings.

Free Pick: Take Washington and give the points. Washington 20-17

Arizona Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys

Game Line: Dallas -4 | OU 48

After rising to the top of the NFC East with six straight wins, 5-1 ATS, the Cowboys were humbled by division rival Washington last week, dropping a 20-17 decision in OT as nine-point home favorites. The Cowboys face their toughest test of the season as four-point NFL betting line favorites against Arizona.

Dallas’ strong season has been built on the resurgence of veteran QB Tony Romo and the career year of RB DeMarco Murray. While Romo’s 15 TD passes put him on pace for his most productive year since 2011, his oft-injured back has caused him to miss recent practices and puts his status against the Cards in question. Murray, meanwhile, has been a beast on the ground, with 1054 rushing yards to date. With Romo ailing, the Cowboys may be forced to rely even more heavily on the ground game, which could be problematic against Arizona’s third-ranked rush defense which has allowed an average of just 77.9 ground yards per game.

Free Pick: Take Arizona and the points. Arizona 24-17

Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots

Game Line: Denver -3 | OU 55

The New England Patriots have roared to life since suffering a 41-14 thrashing by Kansas City in Week 4. Against any other visiting opponents, the Pats would be favored, but this week they face Denver, who have been Super Bowl favorites on NFL betting lines all season, and simply dominant in four straight wins fueled by 14 Peyton Manning TD passes, easily covering by double-digits in each,.

But QB Tom Brady has been equally dominant during the Patriots’ recent winning streak, also throwing 14 TD passes and twice compiling over 350 passing yards. However, it is New England that will send the NFL’s second best pass defense on to the field on Sunday against a Broncos squad that has not won at Gillette Stadium during the Manning era and only once during the regular season in their last five meetings.

Free Pick: Take New England and the points. New England 36-31

Indianapolis Colts @ New York Giants

Game Line: Indianapolis -3 | OU 51

The Colts travel to New York looking for answers after surrendering an astonishing 522 passing yards in last week’s humbling 51-34 loss to Pittsburgh. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger’s incredible performance overshadowed Indy QB Andrew Luck’s 400-yard day, focusing more attention on Luck’s mistakes, namely two interceptions and an intentional grounding which resulted in a safety.

Pittsburgh’s success against Luck and the Colts should encourage the Giants to be more aggressive on defense and inspire confidence that they can protect Giants QB Eli Manning against a Colts blitz that worked so well until being stopped by the Steelers. But Manning is not Big Ben and the Colts will make adjustments ahead of Sunday’s matchup against a Giants squad that has lost their last two games by wide margins.

Free Pick: Take Indianapolis and give the points. Indianapolis 28-15