Believe it or not, we’ve made it to the halfway point of the NFL season. With a loaded slate of games ahead in Week 9, let’s break it down with our betting looks and predictions for each matchup.
Houston Texans @ New York Jets
Thursday, Oct. 31, 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
Spread: Jets -2
Total: 42
Week 9 gets underway with a Halloween matchup in the AFC, and it’s fitting this game features the spookiest team in the NFL: the Jets. New York suffered an inexplicable loss to the New England Patriots last week. At 2-6, the Jets need to go at least 7-2 down the stretch to have any chance at the playoffs.
The 6-2 Texans should cruise to an AFC South title, but they’re dealing with some key injuries right now. Stefon Diggs suffered a torn ACL in Week 8, so C.J. Stroud will be throwing to Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson and Robert Woods this week. Houston will also be without OG Jarrett Patterson, LB Azeez Al-Shaair and S Jimmie Ward.
Mismatch to exploit: C.J. Stroud vs. Jets secondary
Stroud could struggle this week without Diggs and Nico Collins. Sauce Gardner will try to take out Tank Dell, leaving Stroud with few trusty targets in the passing game. Check out his passing yards under.
Prediction: Jets 20, Texans 19
Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills
Sunday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m., CBS
Spread: Bills -6.5
Total: 49.5
Tua Tagovailoa returned to the field last Sunday for the first time since Week 2, but he didn’t make enough of a difference in Miami’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The defense gave up 6.3 yards per play and allowed the Cardinals to go 7-13 on third downs. Tagovailoa is 1-7 against the Bills in his career.
Buffalo has won its last two games by a combined score of 65-20. Josh Allen has been playing at an MVP level since his poor performance against the Ravens, and he’s only going to get better as he builds more trust in Amari Cooper.
Mismatch to exploit: De’Von Achane vs. Bills linebackers
The Bills are giving up the most receiving yards to opposing running backs in the NFL, and Achane is averaging 6.7 catches and 65.0 receiving yards in three games with Tagovailoa. Check out his receiving overs.
Prediction: Bills 30, Dolphins 24
Dallas Cowboys @ Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m., FOX
Spread: Falcons -2.5
Total: 52
The Cowboys are quickly losing pace in the NFC East, and they could be up against it this week. DeMarcus Lawrence is on IR, Micah Parsons still hasn’t practiced and Trevon Diggs is dealing with an undisclosed injury. Those losses would be massive against Atlanta’s red-hot offense.
Kirk Cousins has thrown for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns over his last four games. He should be able to keep it rolling against a Cowboys defense that ranks dead last in the NFL in yards allowed per attempt (8.2).
Mismatch to exploit: Kyle Pitts vs. Cowboys secondary
The Cowboys give up explosive passing plays every week, especially down the middle of the field. Pitts averages 14.4 yards per catch this season, so check out his longest reception prop over.
Prediction: Cowboys 27, Falcons 24
Las Vegas Raiders @ Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m., FOX
Spread: Bengals -7
Total: 46.5
Just when we thought the Bengals might be putting something together, they get blown out at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. The offense averaged just 4.8 yards per play without Tee Higgins, and the defense was ineffective against a strong offensive line. This is a much easier matchup for Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard to cause havoc in the backfield.
The Raiders have lost four straight games, and they could be in trouble again with three offensive linemen listed as questionable this week. Las Vegas will struggle to score if it can’t protect Gardner Minshew.
Mismatch to exploit: Raiders offensive line vs. Bengals defensive line
Hendrickson, Hubbard and B.J. Hill should feast against this banged-up offensive line. Check out some sack props or Raiders rushing yards under.
Prediction: Bengals 26, Raiders 16
Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m., CBS
Spread: Ravens -9
Total: 45.5
Everyone agrees that the Ravens are one of the top Super Bowl contenders this year, but they now have two inexplicable losses against the Raiders and the Cleveland Browns. The defense ranks dead last in passing yards allowed per game. Defensive tackle Michael Pierce was just placed on injured reserve, and Lamar Jackson missed practice on Wednesday due to knee and back injuries.
Meanwhile, the Broncos are humming with five wins in their last six games. Bo Nix continues to improve every week, but Denver’s best win this year came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. How will the Broncos handle this step up in class?
Mismatch to exploit: Bo Nix vs. Ravens secondary
The Ravens gave up 704 passing yards and six passing touchdowns to Jameis Winston and Baker Mayfield over their last two games. The Broncos could be playing catch-up in this game, so check out Nix’s over passing attempts and/or passing yards.
Prediction: Ravens 27, Broncos 23
Los Angeles Chargers @ Cleveland Browns
Sunday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m., CBS
Spread: Chargers -1.5
Total: 43
This is a completely different Browns team with Winston under center. Cleveland didn’t score more than 18 points in seven games with Deshaun Watson, but it scored 29 and averaged 6.1 yards per play in an upset win against the Ravens in Winston’s first start. The Browns need to be upgraded in the market.
As for the Chargers, rookie wide receiver Lass McConkey broke out last with 111 yards and two touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints. Los Angeles is giving up the fewest points per game in the NFL (13.0), but that could be a product of its weak schedule to this point.
Mismatch to exploit: Justin Herbert vs. Browns secondary
The Browns defense has only one interception all season, which is the same number of picks Herbert has thrown in seven starts. Take a look at Herbert to not throw an interception.
Prediction: Chargers 20, Browns 17
New England Patriots @ Tennessee Titans
Sunday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m., FOX
Spread: Titans -3.5
Total: 38
The Patriots are coming off a miraculous win against the Jets, but this is still one of the worst teams in the NFL. The big story heading into this game is Drake Maye’s health. The rookie QB suffered a concussion last week and is listed as questionable for this Sunday. Jacoby Brissett will start if Maye can’t pass the concussion protocol in time.
The Titans are coming off a 52-14 loss to the Detroit Lions in the flukiest blowout of the season. Tennessee outgained Detroit, 416-225, but coughed up four turnovers and got crushed with return yardage. Calvin Ridley finally showed out with 10 catches for 143 yards.
Mismatch to exploit: Titans offense vs. Patriots defense
The Titans found something on offense last week, and the overrated Patriots defense has seven starters listed as questionable. Check out the Titans team total over.
Prediction: Titans 24, Patriots 13
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers
Sunday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m., CBS
Spread: Saints -7
Total: 43.5
The Saints offense has been inept with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener under center, so New Orleans fans will be thrilled to get Derek Carr back from injury this week. The last time we saw Carr against this atrocious Panthers defense, the Saints put up 47 points in a laugher.
Carolina is expected to start Bryce Young for the second straight week. In three starts this season, Young is 0-3 against the spread with an average losing margin of 24.7 points. Why is this spread only -7?
Mismatch to exploit: Chuba Hubbard vs. Saints front seven
Hubbard has somehow managed to put up consistent rushing stats despite Carolina’s terrible QB play, and the Saints rank 31st in the NFL in yards per rush allowed. Take a look at Hubbard’s rushing yards over.
Prediction: Saints 26, Panthers 13
This content was brought to you by: Yardbarker: NFL
