Halloween NFL Home Dogs for Week 9

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cincinnati Bengals (+7.5)

It’s hard to like the Cincinnati Bengals in any situation right about now. Ryan Fitzpatrick is a disaster at quarterback, there’s no running game to speak of and the game-changing wideouts like T.J. Houshmanzadeh and Chad Johnson are playing hurt. Furthermore, the Bengals defense is getting pillaged on a weekly basis.

The Bengals are at home this week but that may not mean anything. The fans have turned on the franchise and now a team desperate for a win comes to town. The Jaguars have some problems of their own but should still be able to get the win with a halfway effort.

Pick: Jaguars -7.5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Kansas City Chiefs (+9)

Tyler Thigpen is not a very good quarterback – regardless of what we saw last week. Call it a hunch, but expect the Tampa Bay defense to really bring him back down to Earth this week. The bottom line is that Thigpen is still really shorthanded. He’s not a good quarterback to begin with, he’ll be without top two running backs Larry Johnson and Jamaal Charles, and the Chiefs defense is giving up a ton of yards on the ground.

That last factor figures to be the difference. When the Bucs run the ball, they are a tough team to beat all the way around.

Pick: Buccaneers -9

Arizona Cardinals @ St. Louis Rams (+3)

The St. Louis Rams have been fantastic since Jim Haslett has taken over yet somehow they find themselves as a home underdog against a team that is virtually their equal. While the Rams offense is slowly finding its feet, the defense has been stellar since Haslett took over.

The Cardinals have been atrocious on the road this season mostly in part to turnovers. On top of that, they don’t run the ball very well. If you’re doing some sports betting, how can you back a team on the road that doesn’t run the ball well?

Pick: Rams +3

Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5) @ Seattle Seahawks

The Philadelphia Eagles are 4-3 with a chance to get back into the NFC East race with a win this weekend. The Seattle Seahawks are battered, bruised and short-handed, which means they’ll have a tough time competing this week.

The Eagles offense got back on track last weekend as Brian Westbrook returned and with the Eagles receiving corps intact, they should be able to exploit a feeble Seahawks team. Without Matt Hasselbeck, the Seahawks just don’t have the firepower to compete with the Eagles, who are a strong traveling team.

Pick: Eagles -6.5

Atlanta Falcons @ Oakland Raiders (+2.5)

The Oakland Raiders have been a solid play as an underdog this season, particularly at home. They are a team that seems to feed off the energy from their crowd but struggles when they are not in their friendly confines.

This weekend they are back at the Black Hole, which means they are worth backing. The Falcons have been inconsistent on the road and a West Coast trip isn’t exactly the cure for a struggling running game on the road. Take a shot with the Raiders.

Pick: Raiders +2.5