There are eight divisions in the National Football League. One of them has to be the worst, and halfway through the 2019 regular season, it’s the AFC East as usual. The New England Patriots killed this division a long, long time ago; they routinely make the playoffs with little resistance, and often go on to win the Super Bowl. Finally, in Week 9, the Patriots will be tested by a serious rival – even if the NFL betting odds have them favored on the road.
2019 NFL Week 9 Best Odds and Matchups
1. New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
The Patriots (8-0 SU, 6-2 ATS) were big favorites on the NFL odds board for seven of their first eight games, but they’ll face their smallest spread thus far when they visit the Ravens (5-2 SU, 2-5 ATS), who lead the AFC North by two games. Baltimore checks in as 4-point home dogs at press time.
2. Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1 PM ET, FOX)
The NFL lines are on hold for this game while the Chiefs (5-3 SU, 4-4 ATS) decide whether to bring QB Patrick Mahomes back off the injured list, or let him recuperate from his dislocated kneecap and start Matt Moore instead. The Vikings (6-2 SU, 5-3 ATS) have won four straight games at 3-1 ATS.
3. San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (Thursday, 8:20 PM ET, FOX)
If you’re supposed to buy low and sell high when you bet on the NFL, the Cardinals (3-4-1 SU, 5-3 ATS) might be worth a look here as 10.5-point home dogs versus the undefeated Niners (7-0 SU, 5-2 ATS), especially with a low-ish total of 43 points on the board for Glendale.
4. Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (Monday, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN)
Now that his offensive line is once again intact, Dak Prescott looks like an MVP candidate for Dallas (4-3 SU and ATS), while the honeymoon is over for Daniel Jones and the Giants (2-6 SU, 3-5 ATS). The Cowboys opened this NFC East rivalry game as 7.5-point road favorites and have since shifted to –7.
5. Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 9:30 AM ET, NFL)
The Texans (5-3 SU, 4-4 ATS) have lost star defensive end JJ Watt to a torn pec, and they have several other injured defenders heading into this important AFC South matchup with the Jaguars (4-4 SU, 5-3 ATS) at Wembley Stadium in London. Houston still opened as 1.5-point favorites.
6. Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 1 PM ET, FOX)
It’s only halfway through the season, but this looks like a make-or-break game for both the Bears (3-4 SU, 2-5 ATS) and the Eagles (4-4 SU, 3-5 ATS). The Eagles are laying five points at home in what should be a defensive battle.
7. Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 PM ET, CBS)
The Titans (4-4 SU, 3-4-1 ATS) have won back-to-back games since Ryan Tannehill took over for Marcus Mariota as their starting quarterback. They’re 4-point road dogs against the Panthers (4-3 SU and ATS), who will once again start Kyle Allen in place of the injured Cam Newton.
8. Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)
This could be an easy game for the Packers (7-1 SU, 6-2 ATS), opening as 4-point road favorites for their game against the reeling Chargers (3-5 SU, 2-4-2 ATS). Los Angeles fired offensive co-ordinator Ken Whisenhunt on Monday.
9. Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 1 PM ET, CBS)
In yet another blow to their offense, the Steelers (3-4 SU, 4-3 ATS) lost RB James Conner to an AC joint injury; his status for Sunday’s game against Indianapolis (5-2 SU, 4-2-1 ATS) remains unknown at press time. The Colts are 1-point road favorites at Heinz Field.
10. New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1 PM ET, CBS)
It’s a race to the bottom of the league standings, and fittingly enough, this race features the two worst teams in the AFC East. QB Sam Darnold’s return from mono hasn’t helped New York nearly as much as hoped, and the Fins have lost Pro Bowl CB Xavien Howard to a knee injury. The Jets (1-6 SU, 2-5 ATS) are 3-point road favorites over the Dolphins (0-7 SU, 3-4 ATS) on Sunday.