NFL betting: 5 picks against the spread for Week 9
Zach Brunner makes his NFL betting picks for Week 9 of the 2021 season, with five picks against the spread.
BUFFALO BILLS (-14.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have the worst defense in the NFL, and that’s saying a lot since the Lions are winless. The Bills, meanwhile, have one of the league’s best offenses. We have have seen their ability to blowout bad teams this season, which is a skill many teams don’t have.
The Bills have an answer for everything Jacksonville could throw at them, so look for this to be another dominating performance.
Denver Broncos at DALLAS COWBOYS (-9)
It’s clear the Broncos have given up on the season. The impact of trading away Von Miller cannot be overstated. Not only is he a great edge rusher, he is the heart and soul of their defense and a team leader.
Trading Miller is the type of move that makes other players look around and ask why they should bother suiting up for the game. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are legit and quarterback Dak Prescott is back. The defense is the only thing the Broncos had going for them in this match-up, and without Miller they are no longer scary.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (-2) at Philadelphia Eagles
This Chargers team makes poor decisions and mental errors, but they are better coached and much more talented than the Eagles. Los Angeles has back-to-back losses against two of the best coached teams in the NFL, but that’s not a description that fits the Eagles.
Philadelphia’s defensive philosophy is to sit back and not give up the big play, banking on the offense making a mistake. The Chargers will know this, and in Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler they have playmakers that can turn underneath touches into big gains. That will be the difference as they get back on track here.
Green Bay Packers at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-7.5)
The Packers will be without MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, with Jordan Love set to start. Not only is that a massive drop in ability, many don’t realize how many adjustments Rodgers makes on the field. The pressure is now on coach Matt LaFleur as a play-caller. It’s also on the offensive line to communicate and make the right reads.
On the other side of the ball, the Packers can be blitz-happy at times, and Patrick Mahomes will make them pay for that. This is a get-right game for the Chiefs, who will decimate the Packers if they play in man coverage.
Chicago Bears at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-6)
We know this Bears offensive line is bad. However, we haven’t seen just how bad they can be against this formidable Pittsburgh defensive front. The closest comparison was in Chicago’s game against the Cleveland Browns, which was an absolute disaster.
The Steelers may only need to score 17 to cover the spread, though they should score more than that.