Week 9 is already shaping up to be one of the harder to handicap this year in the NFL. We have a sub-.500 team that is a double-digit favorite, yet the rest of the NFL is separated by a touchdown or fewer. Four of the 13 games on the docket feature pointspreads of less than a field goal as well.
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The Numbers
1: The number of wins the Raiders have against the Dolphins since the last time they reached the Super Bowl. Oakland is just 1-8 SU and 2-7 ATS against Miami since that point in 2001, including five straight defeats from 2007 through 2014. This is the first time Derek Carr has ever gone up against the Fins, though, and this couldn’t be a bigger spot for either team. Both need a victory, or this could easily end up being figurative curtains on the loser’s season.
13: The number representing the highest point spread of Week 9. The Texans might be just 3-4, but they’re expected to put away the Colts with ease on Sunday. Deshaun Watson is tearing apart the rookie record books at the moment, and if he plays as well on Sunday as he has recently, this game will be a no-contest. The Colts have gotten Jacoby Brissett sacked 14 times over the course of the last two weeks. This has the makings of a get-better game for an ailing Houston defense. This is only the fifth time in Texans history (and the first since 2012) in which they’re favored by 13 points or more.
46: The number of consecutive home games in which the Seahawks have been favored, the longest such streak in the NFL. The last time the Hawks were pups at home was back in the middle of the 2012 season when the Patriots last came to CenturyLink Field. Needless to say, this is a tough challenge for the Redskins flying across the country to face one of the most rabid fan bases in the NFL.
50: The number of points in the over/under of the Buccaneers/Saints game, the highest total amongst the Week 9 betting odds. The Saints played against the highest total of the week in Week 8 as well against Chicago and didn’t even come close to the number in a 20-12 victory. Now, New Orleans is back with another high total, though at least this time, there’s a potentially capable offense on the other side of the field. Then again, Tampa Bay joined Miami as the only two teams in the NFL to not reach double-digits in scoring in Week 8.
93: The number of consecutive road games in which the Rams have been either underdogs or favored by a field goal or fewer. The 94th time appears to be the charm for L.A., as it’s giving four to the Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 9. In a related story to this one, the Rams haven’t been to the playoffs since 2004, so it only makes sense that the last time they laid more than a field goal on the road was way back in 2005.
Opening Week 9 NFL Odds
Chiefs at Raiders (+3, 47.5)
Titans at Browns (+7)
Jaguars at Colts (+3)
Bengals at Steelers (-6, 41)
Ravens at Vikings (-5, 39.5)
Jets at Dolphins (-3.5, 38.5)
Buccaneers at Bills (Off)
Panthers at Bears (+4, 41)
Saints at Packers (+4, 47.5)
Cardinals vs. Rams (London) (-3, 47.5)
Cowboys at 49ers (+6, 47)
Seahawks at Giants (+8)
Broncos at Chargers (+1)
Falcons at Patriots (-4.5, 53.5)
Redskins at Eagles (-5, 48.5)
(Odds Courtesy of BookMaker.eu)
