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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cletis Cutts

The 5 best bets for NFL Week 9

This week’s picks include Ohio standing tall, New York having another bad day, a couple young quarterbacks lighting up the scoreboard, and a division dagger being plunged.

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook

5
Take Cleveland Browns on the moneyline (+105) vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Credit: Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Chargers are road favorites against a Browns team that either starts stacking together wins or starts looking to 2025. The Chargers aren’t fraudulent, but their wins have come against teams that either aren’t good or were hobbled when they played. Jim Harbaugh coming to Ohio typically didn’t end well, and a desperate Browns will continue that trend.

4
Take Cincinnati Bengals and lay 7 points (-115) vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Raiders have lost four straight, and five of their six losses have been by seven points or more. If the Bengals don’t win this game, which would drop them to 0-5 at home, their season is realistically over. Vegas in the early window against a home team with nothing to lose is a dangerous combination. There’s a chance Cincy wins by twice this number or more.

3
Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals OVER 44.5 points (-110)

Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Bears are coming off an unexpected loss, and the Cardinals are somehow in first place in the NFC West despite a 4-4 record. Both teams have enough explosiveness to put up points. Risks will be taken that could lead to points – good and bad. With so much at stake for both teams, if one of them gets on a roll, there is no reason to slow down. This game has the look of one with big-play touchdowns, not a lot of field goals.

2
Take Washington Commanders at lay 4 points (-110) at New York Giants

Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

The Giants are in free fall, and the Commanders are looking to make their case for legitimacy. New York tends to get off to slow starts, and Washington has outscored opponents 124-68 in the first half. The Commanders are used to playing from ahead, a Giants team that doesn’t score many points at home looks tailor-made for Washington to keep its roll going.

1
Take Detroit Lions and lay 2.5 points (-110) at Green Bay Packers

Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Packers are a playoff team. The Lions are capable of being a Super Bowl team. The mystique of Lambeau Field died years ago. If Green Bay is going to win, the game will need to be close as the Lions have the firepower to win in a blowout. Laying less than a field goal when Detroit has a chance to make a statement as the big dog in not just the division but the conference is worth the wager.


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