Betting Recap - Week 9
By Daniel Dobish
VegasInsider.com
National Football League Week 9 Results
Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 8-4
Against the Spread 6-4-2
Home-Away
Straight Up 7-5
Against the Spread 6-4-2
Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 5-7
The largest underdogs to win straight up
Redskins (+8.5, ML +350) at Seahawks, 17-14
Colts (+6, ML +210) at Texans, 20-14
Jets (+3.5, ML +155) vs. Bills, 34-21
Panthers (+3, ML +135) vs. Falcons, 20-17
The largest favorite to cover
Eagles (-7) vs. Broncos, 51-23
Saints (-7) vs. Buccaneers, 30-10
Rams (-6) at Giants, 51-17
Jaguars (-5.5) vs. Bengals, 23-7
Bam-da-Lam, How About Those Rams?
The Los Angeles Rams hit the road and thrashed the hapless New York Giants 51-17, as QB Jared Goff and company are currently the highest-scoring offense in the National Football League. How many people predicted that after the former standout at Cal looked like a deer in headlights in his rookie season? The Rams have won and covered three in a row, and the 'over' has cashed in six of their eight games overall. Cross-country trips haven't fazed the Rams, either, as they're 2-0 SU/ATS in two outings in the Eastern Time Zone. Hey, at least they were helped out somewhat on Sunday when we turned back the clocks an hour.
Odd Balls
The Jacksonville Jaguars came out of their bye rested, and they humbled the visiting Cincinnati Bengals by a 23-7 count at EverBank Stadium. It might have been an eyebrow-raising win considering they were a six-point favorite despite missing all-everything rookie RB Leonard Fournette, who was deactivated due to a violation of team rules. #Sacksonville was led by their defense, and they won and covered because it was an odd-numbered week. If you've been following this column all season you'd know the Jags are 5-0 SU/ATS in odd-numbered weeks, and 0-3 SU/ATS in even-numbered weeks, which is why it was good their bye was in Week 8. So will they fail to cover at home against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10? The coincidental trend suggests so. And hey, the Bolts are coming off a bye, so they'll be rested.
Total Recall
Sunday Night Football hit the 'over' for the first time since Week 5, as the Oakland Raiders picked up a much-needed road victory against the hard-to-figure Miami Dolphins, 27-24. That's now three 'over' results in a row for the Silver and Black, and their second straight over in the Eastern Time Zone. It was also the third consecutive 'over' for the Fins, thanks in large part to their flagging defense. Miami is allowing 31.7 PPG over their past three outings after yielding just 16.9 PPG through their first five games, all 'under' results.
The games with the two lowest total on the board -- Cincinnati-Jacksonville (38) and Arizona-San Francisco (39) -- actually went according to how Vegas figured for once. The Jags have hit the 'under' in three of their past four outings, and they have yielded single-digit point totals in five of their first eight outings this season. The Bengals have struggled on offense, averaging just 16.2 PPG this season. And the 49ers have a rookie QB, and they have scored exactly 10 points in each of their past three outings, so no surprise on the 'under' there, while the Cards have a backup signal caller under center.
The Tampa Bay-New Orleans (54.5) game was far and away the highest total on the board, and it never came close to going over. In fact, the Bucs have two scoreless quarters, and the Saints had one, while all but one of the quarters had 10 or fewer total points. It was rather surprising considering the 'over' had cashed in each of the first three road games for Tampa this season, and the Saints are averaging 30.5 PPG in four home outings (over is 2-2).
The 'Over' is 17-11 (60.7%) through the first 28 primetime games of the 2017 season with Monday's NFC North Division clash between the Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers (43) still pending. Officially, the 'over' finished 27-24 (52.9%) through 51 games under the lights in 2016. In 2015, the over finished 20-28-1 (41.7%) in 49 primetime games. In 2014, the over went 33-17 (66.0%) in primetime games, and the over was 28-22 (56.0%) in 2013.
Injury Report
Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston (shoulder) has had a bum shoulder for the past couple of weeks, and he exited Sunday's game in New Orleans early due to a shoulder ailment. He was on the sidelines, however, bugging Saints CB Marshon Lattimore, and he ended up touching off a fracas.
Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (ankle) suffered a right ankle injury in the fourth quarter of the win against the Chiefs, but he told The Dallas Morning News that he was just sore and bruised, and he would be fine for Week 10.
Seahawks RB Eddie Lacy (groin) left early due to a groin injury against the Redskins and he was unable to return.
Looking Ahead
There are just two divisional battles next week. The Seahawks and Cardinals will kick off Week 10 on Thursday Night Football in the desert. Seattle will be awfully angry after a home loss to the banged up 'Skins. Seattle has been good on the road lately, though, winning and covering their past two. Meanwhile, Arizona is just 2-6 ATS this season, going 2-1 SU/1-2 ATS in three home games. Last season, Arizona was 1-0-1 SU and 1-1 ATS against Seattle, with a 6-6 tie on Oct. 23 at home against the 'Hawks.
The Packers and Bears renew acquaintances in the Second City, and Chicago will be looking for a little payback after getting drummed 35-14 at Lambeau on Thursday Night Football back on Sept. 28. Of course, the offense was being led by Aaron Rodgers, who has since been injured. The Packers have won each of their past seven trips to Soldier Field, including a playoff game in 2011, while going 6-1 ATS. Their last regular season loss in Chicago came Sept. 27, 2010. Again, though, the games were with Rodgers under center, not Brett Hundley.