12 Jun 2019
We are half-way through the regular season and there is everything to play for. We take a look at some of the big games ahead of Week 9, providing quick hits and top trends.
OAKLAND RAIDERS @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Two poor teams and possibly the worst Thursday Night Football game in years. The Raiders (1-6) looked better in defeat at home to the Colts last week, with Derek Carr completing 75 percent of his passes, but they lost receiver Amari Cooper to Dallas in a trade this week.
The 49ers (1-7) lost to the hapless Arizona Cardinals last week but seek a fourth win in five home meetings to their Bay area rivals. In a game for the purists, the 49ers are 7/10 Moneyline favourites, while the Raiders can be supported at 7/5 conceding 1.5 points on the Genting Casino NFL handicap.
DETROIT LIONS @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The Lions (3-4) surprisingly traded slot receiver Golden Tate this week to the Philadelphia Eagles and they will certainly miss his yards after the catch. Few receivers offer more in that phase. Lions must do a better job of stuffing the run and the acquisition of ex-Giants defensive tackle Damon Harrison should help in the long term.
Lions have a tough stretch of games upcoming (facing the Bears twice, and the Rams and the Panthers at home) and seek a third consecutive win in Minnesota for the first time since 1966.
Vikings (4-3-1) have not been protecting QB Kirk Cousins well enough to think they are viable Super Bowl contenders this year, but the NFC North appears to be suffering a down year, so a win here will significantly boost their playoff chances, and they are considered 4/5 shots to cover the 4.5 Genting Casino handicap.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS @ CLEVELAND BROWNS
Cleveland (2-5-1), who fired head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley this week, have been involved in four overtime games. Their defense has generated 22 turnovers, but they have only managed to gain 34 points from those turnovers.
They face a Chiefs (7-1) team that is masking its defensive inefficiencies with a versatile attack and they have won just two of their last 11 trips to Cleveland. Those two wins came by a combined three points, so trends followers may well support the Browns on the handicap, since they are in receipt of 9.5 points at odds of 4/5.
Chiefs failed to cover the 10-point handicap in beating Denver on the road last week, yet they covered the spread in their seven previous contests. The Browns have lost just once at home this season and are available at 7/2 to win on the Genting Casino Moneyline.
ATLANTA FALCONS @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS
The Falcons (3-4) have been beset by injuries, particularly to some of their key defensive components and they need to do a better job of wrapping up opposing rushers at first contact – their 3.6 yards allowed after contact is the worst in the NFL. They are also allowing a third-down conversion rate 42.1 percent of the time – only the Chargers and Bengals allow more third-down conversions.
Yet their offense is still a well-oiled machine, with QB Matt Ryan on pace for another MVP season, and they have the receiving weapons to hurt the Redskins. Look for Julio Jones to have a big day, as Ryan picks on declining Redskins CB Josh Norman.
The Falcons need to win to realistically keep their playoff hopes alive, while the NFC East-leading Redskins (5-2) hope to snap a five-game losing streak to the Falcons, who have won on their last three trips to Washington. Redskins are 3/4 on the Genting Casino Moneyline and 19/20 conceding 2.5 points on the handicap.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS @ BALTIMORE RAVENS
The Ravens (4-4) already have one verdict over the Steelers (4-2-1) this season, which snapped a run of three consecutive defeats to their AFC North rivals. They also boast four home wins in their last five against Mike Tomlin’s men.
Since that 26-16 home loss in Week 4, the Steelers have hit their stride, while the Ravens have lost three of the last four. This is a pivotal clash, as the visitors have a tough run-in against the likes of the Panthers, Chargers, Patriots and Saints, but the Ravens will not want to go into the bye week on another loss. The home side can be supported at 7/10 on the Moneyline, while the Steelers are on offer at 6/5 to win and 19/20 in receipt of 2.5 points on the handicap.
CHICAGO BEARS @ BUFFALO BILLS
Buffalo (2-6) start Nathan Peterman at QB, so it is interesting that the Bills are merely 7.5-point underdogs. Points may be at a premium, because Chicago (4-3) QB Mitch Trubisky is frustratingly inconsistent and the one thing the Bills’ defense can be is stout. The points total is set at 38.5 points and layers offer odds of 5/6 that there will be less points than this line.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS
You may have heard of the Tampa 2 defense. They seem to have taken the literal sense of the wording this term, because it appears as though they are playing with two men on the defensive side of the ball and little else.
Carolina may not top the NFC South, but they have been improving markedly in recent weeks and may be among the best teams in the NFL right now. They have won four of the last five against the Bucs in Charlotte, and while Ryan Fitzpatrick replaces Jameis Winston at QB for the Bucs, even that may not be enough to keep them within the 4.5-point handicap. The odds of 3/4 for the hosts to cover may seem generous to some.
NEW YORK JETS @ MIAMI DOLPHINS
The Dolphins (4-4) have lost four of their last five games since beating the Jets 20-12 in New York. The Jets (3-5) have struggled offensively and their offensive line has been pushed back often on passing downs, giving rookie Sam Darnold little time to throw. Miami’s injuries on both lines has seen them struggle to stop the run and rush the passer – and they rank 29th in QB hits.
Back-up passer Brock Osweiler has done relatively well in relief of injured QB Ryan Tannehill and is expected to start again for Miami, who have won four of the last five meetings, but have not won three consecutive meetings in Miami since 1997.
For that reason, some will think the 13/10 for a Jets win is a little generous, while they can also be supported at 3/4 in receipt of 3.5 points on the Genting Casino NFL handicap.
HOUSTON TEXANS @ DENVER BRONCOS
Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas was traded to the Houston Texans last week – and he goes straight back to Mile High, where he played for nine seasons. He will replace injured Will Fuller, who is out for an indefinite period following the Texans’ emphatic win over the Dolphins 10 days ago.
Houston (5-3) seek a six-game winning streak following their 0-3 start, but they have won a bunch of close games and also came up against a depleted Miami team last time out.
Denver (3-4) need to stop the run. They allow opposing rushers 5.1 yards per carry and Houston has done a good job of running the ball. If QB Case Keenum, another in the long line of ineffective passers in Denver, is forced to play catch-up, bettors will feel the value may lie in the visitors, who are Evens on the Moneyline and 23/20 to cover a 1.5-point handicap.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seattle’s offensive line has been much better than advertised and they are running the ball to great effect, averaging 173 yards per game over the last four weeks. The Seahawks (4-3) face a Chargers (5-2) team that is a middling 16th against the run, averaging 106.4 yards per game.
Chargers have a top- five offense and a top-10 defense, and Philip Rivers will have to be on his game against the Seahawks’ fourth-ranked defense.
Genting Casino’s NFL odds have the hosts as 4/5 Moneyline favourites to win a seventh home meeting in the last nine, while the Chargers are 4/5 in receipt of 1.5 points on the handicap.
Five of the Chargers’ seven games saw the points total eclipsed and the line is set at 49.5 points, which may look a little steep to some. If so, the odds of 5/6 for the total to go under that mark must surely be of interest.
LOS ANGELES RAMS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
This could yet be a preview of the NFC Championship game, with the Rams (8-0) facing the NFC South leading Saints (7-1), knowing they got even better with the trade for Panthers’ edge rusher Dante Fowler.
So far, the Saints have been exceptional in stopping pressure on offense, particularly on the interior, which means QB Drew Brees is having another armchair ride. Their ability to stop the pass has also been good, which is why the unbeaten Rams are only marginal favourites on the Moneyline at 17/20.
Saints, who have not managed three consecutive wins over the Rams at home since 1992, are 19/20 on the Moneyline and are 17/20 in receipt of 1.5 points on the Gentingbet American Football handicap.
GREEN BAY PACKERS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Green Bay (3-3-1) are in third place in the NFC North and but for a tie against Minnesota and a fumble with less than two minutes remaining which cost them the game last week at the Rams, could easily be 5-3. Yet they are what their record says they are until they prove otherwise.
They need this game more than the Patriots, who are sailing along at 6-2, having won their last five and sit atop the AFC East with little competition. The Patriots are getting more pressure on opposing QBs, but whether they will get enough pressure on Aaron Rodgers is questionable.
Tom Brady faces a Packers’ defense that is allowing the sixth-lowest completion percentage to opposing QBs (61.5 percent) and the fifth fewest passing yards per game (221.7).
Packers’ last five trips to New England saw two wins and three losses by six points or less. The Patriots are 6.5 point favourites at odds of Evens on the Genting Casino handicap, and the Packers come into this off of a long trip to the West Coast.
TENNESSEE TITANS @ DALLAS COWBOYS
The Cowboys (3-4) have alternated wins and losses each week while the Titans are fresh from a bye week, following their third loss on the bounce, when they had a chance to win against the Chargers in London, but went all-in on a two-point conversion and paid the price.
Tennessee (4-3) has trouble putting up points, topping 20 just once this year, so it is no great surprise that five of their seven games has seen the points total fail to go above the line.
The Cowboys have won each of their three home games, but their schedule is about to get significantly tougher, with trips to Philadelphia and Atlanta, followed by division-leading Washington and New Orleans. The addition of Amari Cooper will open up space on the ground for Ezekiel Elliott, and the wins and losses on alternate meetings in Dallas since 1988 dictates that it is the hosts’ turn to win. The Cowboys are 2/5 Monelyline favourites, although those who think the Titans may keep this close will be interested in taking them with 6.5 points on the handicap at odds of 3/4.
Check out all the markets for every NFL game here.
Those seeking educated picks against the handicap spread may wish to take a look at Lindyssports.com, America’s leading football authority.
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