NFL Best Bets: Week 9
As sports betting gradually becomes legal in more and more places across the country, NFL football is becoming one of the prime betting targets. Of course, there are surprises across the NFL every single week, so one has to be informed in order to make the right betting decisions. To help with that, let’s go through the five best bets you can make in Week 9.
New York Jets (-3) vs Miami Dolphins
These two teams are in the bottom four of the NFL. The Dolphins have been accused of tanking with a 0-7 record and trading away all of the team’s best players. They got out to a hot start against the Steelers last week, but allowed 27 unanswered points to lose 27-14. The 1-6 Jets got there only win against the Dallas Cowboys but recently got smacked by the Patriots 33-0.
Le'Veon Bell and Jamal Adams provide more than what the Dolphins can deal with. The Dolphins defense is horrendous which will make Sam Darnold look significantly better and will provide him with confidence. Miami’s offense is historically bad with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback and Mark Walton at running back after trading away the talented Kenyan Drake to the Arizona Cardinals.
If the Jets don’t turn over the ball, then the Dolphins don't have any hope like they did leading the Steelers early 14-0. Gregg Williams will dial up pressure looks, which will be too much for Miami’s offensive line to handle. Bell will dominate the field with over 150 scrimmage yards, resulting in an easy cover for the Jets.
Detroit Lions (+2) vs Oakland Raiders
The Detroit Lions were hooked by the referees several times, making their record 3-3-1 rather than potentially 5-1-1. The Lions just recently handled the Giants 31-26 with Matthew Stafford continuing his great season. Oakland lost a heartbreaker to the Texans 27-24 because of Deshaun Watson’s late game heroics.
Both of these teams are looking better than people expected at this point of the season. The main question for both of these franchises is how the quarterbacks Derek Carr and Matthew Safford would perform and they certainly answered the bell.
Detroit’s defense is solid all around, while Oakland has had trouble with the lack of playmakers on that side of the ball. The difference in the game will be the ability of the Lions to stop Oakland, which will put too much pressure on their defense. The Lions will cover in the Black Hole which will make this game closer than it should be.
Green Bay Packers (-3.5) vs Los Angeles Chargers
Besides the 49ers, no one in the NFC looks as good as the 7-1 Green Bay Packers. Last week they dismantled the Chiefs in Arrowhead 31-24. Aaron Rodgers is in MVP form and the running game with Aaron Jones looks better than ever. The Chargers finally won a close game in a sloppy victory against the Bears 17-16 off of a missed field goal.
This is the first time in the past five years the Packers have a solid defense to go along with Rodgers. The defense carried the team for the first four games, but it was just a matter of time until the former league MVP got back into form. The Chargers are 3-5 but are better than their record indicates with all the close games.
Philip Rivers will get easily outdueled by the superior Aaron Rodgers which makes a victory difficult. Derwin James being out has hurt a former dominate Chargers defense and it will not be able to stop a rising Green Bay offense. The Chargers home field advantage is nullified.by the poor Los Angeles crowd and the Packers will be winning by 14 at the end of the first half.
Washington Redskins (+9.5) vs Buffalo Bills
Before week eight, the Bills were 5-1 and people wondered if they would pass the test of a 3-4 Eagles team that was their first real test, besides the unbeatable Patriots. They failed the test losing emphatically 31-13, and Josh Allen proved why he is simply a system quarterback. The Redskins are 1-7 coming off a 19-9 loss to the Vikings but looked tovimprove with interim head coach Bill Callahan.
Adrian Peterson asked for more carries and got his wish granted. He is delivering for the Redskins, which has made them a competitive football game and even delivered a victory against the hopeless Dolphins. The Bills defense continues to be stout and the teams grit cannot be denied with all of the close game victories.
The Bills will edge out this game because they simply will want it more then the Bills due to playoff contention, but it will be close. Both of these teams love to pound the rock which will result in this being the quickest to finish of the week. Buffalo's defense will provide enough turnovers for Josh Allen to capitalize on the field position. This will be a tie game at halftime but Buffalo will pull away with a fourth quarter touchdown.
Tennessee Titans (+4) vs Carolina Panthers
The Tennessee Titans have had a rollercoaster of a season resulting in a 3-4 record. They looked like world beaters after the week one victory against the Browns but then struggle to have any offense against the 2-6 Broncos. The Panthers are 4-2 after falling to the undefeated 49ers, but are 4-1 with Kyle Allen at quarterback.
The young Allen has impressed at quarterback, even leaving people to question former Super Bowl appearing quarterback Cam Newton's future with the team. There is a noticeable difference in accuracy between the two Panthers quarterbacks, and it took until Allen’s fifth game for him to throw his first interception. The major positive with the Titans is the ability for the defense to keep standing up in their victories.
It is difficult to beat the Panthers when they play at home. The formula to beat them seems to be good defense, and that is the one positive for the Titans. The Panthers will win this game, but Ryan Tannehill and the defense will keep the game close until the end. It is going to be a close cover for the Titans.
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Ben Geller is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bjg5666@psu.edu.
