Struggling to make your picks ahead of Week 9 NFL action? After a week of favorites falling left right and center (58% of survivor pool players picked Dallas in Week 8…), you’re not wrong to be a little gun shy. To get you informed, we’ve compiled some of the expert opinions from around the league below so you can compare their thoughts with yours.
If you’re curious what our writing team thinks, we’ve laid down our complete picks and predictions for all the football games this week.
[sc:Football ]
Expert Picks for the 2014 NFL Week 9
CBS Sports
NFL Week 9
Line
Pete Prisco
Jason La Canfora
Will Brinson
Josh Katzowitz
Ryan Wilson
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
+2.5 CAR
Saints
Saints
Panthers
Saints
Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cleveland Browns
-6.5 CLE
Browns
Browns
Buccaneers
Browns
Buccaneers
New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs
-9.5 KC
Chiefs
Jets
Jets
Jets
Jets
San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins
-2.5 MIA
Dolphins
Chargers
Chargers
Chargers
Chargers
Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys
-4.5 DAL
Cardinals
Cardinals
Cardinals
Cardinals
Cardinals
Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings
-2.5 MIN
Vikings
Redskins
Redskins
Vikings
Vikings
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
-11.5 CIN
Jaguars
Bengals
Jaguars
Jaguars
Bengals
Philadelphia Eagles at Houston Texans
+2.5 HOU
Texans
Eagles
Eagles
Eagles
Eagles
St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers
-9.5 SF
49ers
49ers
49ers
49ers
Rams
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots
+3.5 NE
Broncos
Broncos
Patriots
Broncos
Patriots
Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks
-15.5 SEA
Seahawks
Seahawks
Seahawks
Raiders
Seahawks
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
-1.5 PIT
Steelers
Steelers
Steelers
Ravens
Ravens
Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants
+3.5 NYG
Giants
Colts
Giants
Giants
Colts
CBS Sports’ panel was unanimous in picking the Cardinals to cover against the Cowboys. They’re banking on quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to continue connecting like they have in the past few weeks.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Palmer has been lights out since his return from nerve damage on October 12, passing for 832 yards and six touchdowns in the past three weeks. With Palmer back to full health, Fitzgerald, has caught 17 catches for 279 yards and two scores in the last three games. The two should be able to exploit the Cowboys’ pass defense, which allowed 286 yards to backup quarterback Colt McCoy last week.
Meanwhile, Dallas QB Tony Romo suffered a rib injury against the Redskins, leaving his participation for this game as a game-day decision. In his place, backup QB Brandon Weeden may land a starting gig. However, having Weeden behind center doesn’t immediately spell doom for the Cowboys. Weeden went 4-for-6 for 69 yards and a touchdown in his limited playing time on Monday.
With Romo banged up and the possibility of Weeden starting, the Cowboys may run the ball early and often to take off some pressure on either quarterback. Running back DeMarco Murray ran for 141 yards on 19 carries Monday, his eighth straight game of at least 100 yards on the ground against the Redkins. However, Murray may be limited this week when he takes on the third-best rushing defense in the league (77.9 rushing yards per game). Check out our complete preview of this game here.
The Panel was also unanimous in picking the 49ers to cover against the injury-plagued Rams. San Francisco will head into this game fresh off their bye week. The 49ers will also have key players returning to boost their defense.
Starting cornerback Tramaine Brock returned against the Broncos after suffering a toe injury in the opening game against Dallas. Meanwhile, linebacker Ahmad Brooks and defensive end Justin Smith, each having a team-leading 3.5 sacks this season, lead the pass rush against the Rams’ inury-laden offensive line.
This game may look like the 31-17 Week 6 thrashing of the Rams, in which San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick went 22 for 35 for 343 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin had seven catches for 94 yards and a score in the contest. A likely target should also emerge in Stevie Johnson, who has three scoring receptions, tied for the team lead with No. 1 receiver Michael Crabtree.
Want to back one of these teams? Check out our complete preview for the Rams vs. 49ers game before making your pick.
Bleacher Report
NFL Week 9
Line
Steven Cook’s Pick
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
+2.5 CAR
Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cleveland Browns
-6 CLE
Browns
Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys
-4 DAL
Cardinals
Philadelphia Eagles at Houston Texans
-2.5 PHI
Texans
New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs
-7.5 KC
Chiefs
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
-13.5 CIN
Bengals
San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins
-1.5 MIA
Chargers
Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings
-1 WAS
Redskins
St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers
-7.5 SF
49ers
Denver Broncos at New England Patritos
-4 DEN
Patriots
Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks
-15.5 SEA
Raiders
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
-1.5 BAL
Steeelers
Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants
-3 IND
Colts
A hot pick for experts this week are the San Diego Chargers over the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins’ offense struggled against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars last week. Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill went 16-for-29 for 196 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while leading receiver Mike Wallace caught two passes on seven targets.
Miami’s passing game may continue to struggle against the Chargers’ pass defense, which allows 219.1 yards per game. The Dolphins have not won at home since their Week 1 upset of the New England Patriots.
Meanwhile, the Chargers have their pass duo of Phillip Rivers and Antonio Gates. Gates has caught nine touchdowns from Rivers this season, tied for most scoring receptions in the NFL this year.
Bleacher Report also picked the Patriots to cover against the Broncos. The Patriots have a much better pass defense this year in preparation for their showdown with the AFC West leaders. Star cornerback Darrelle Revis leads the team with passes defended (6) and interceptions (2).
However, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning doesn’t favor just one receiver. He spreads his passes around as evidenced by Emmanuel Sanders, Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas catching 19 touchdown passes between them this season. Having to defend against three different threats at a time, the Pats’ defense may be stretched out in this game.
Nevertheless, the Patriots are 4-0 SU/ATS in their last four home games against the Broncos, and Tom Brady has been spectacular throwing 14 touchdowns in the past four weeks. This should be a dog fight until the end. Check out the complete preview of this blockbuster game here. You can also take the Patriots at a sweet price of +145 to extend their home winning streak to five against the Broncos.
FOX Sports
NFL Week 9
Line
Pick
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
+2.5 CAR
Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cleveland Browns
-7 CLE
Browns
Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys
-4 DAL
Cardinals
Philadelphia Eagles at Houston Texans
-1 PHI
Eagles
New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs
-10.5 KC
Jets
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
-12 CIN
Jaguars
San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins
Pick ‘Em
Chargers
Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings
Pick ‘Em
Vikings
St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers
-11 SF
Rams
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots
-3 DEN
Broncos
Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks
-16.5 SEA
Raiders
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick ‘Em
Steelers
Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants
-3 IND
Colts
FOX Sports picked the Raiders to cover the largest spread (+16.5) this week against the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks. The Raiders may be able to do so with an efficient rookie quarterback Derek Carr behind center. Carr has thrown for 783 yards and five touchdowns in his last five games. Meanwhile, the Seahawk’s defense hasn’t looked spectacular over the past three games allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 68 percent of their passes.
Carr also has a viable target in Andre Holmes, who has 17 receptions for 298 yards and four touchdowns in the past four games. Seahawks star cornerback Richard Sherman will be tasked to slow down Holmes. However, Sherman still has no interceptions this season after leading the league with eight last year. If there’s a time to throw Sherman’s way, it’s now.
Can the Raiders beat the spread in this game? Read our complete preview for everything you’ll need to know heading into this game.
