My first bet: first picks for NFL Week 9

The ninth class of the 2024 NFL season features 15 games as contenders begin to isolate. Across the league, teams are beginning to stake their claim for one of the 14 crucial playoff spots that will be up for grabs in January: Buffalo Bills (-2000 to win the AFC East) and Kansas Town Chiefs (-5000 to win the AFC). West) have already established themselves in their respective categories.

Class 9 begins with an AFC showdown between the Houston Texans (6-2) and the Untouched York Jets (2-6) on Thursday. Sunday’s slate features many offending games, including the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions in an NFC North tilt. The Minnesota Vikings welcome the Indianapolis Colts to US Depot Stadium on “Sunday Night Football” and the overall age matchup pits Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on “Monday Night Football.”

Our team takes an early look at Generation 9 odds to find the pre-trip value of the closest lines in the era:

Tide of odds as of publication date, courtesy of ESPN BET

Joe Fortenbaugh’s first guess: Cleveland Browns-Los Angeles Chargers UNDER 40.5 problems

Last age: Cardinals (+3.5) at Dolphins. Closed form at Dolphins -4.5. The Cardinals received 28-27.

40 is the second most important amount in terms of placing a bet on NFL totals, so let’s set it at 40.5 now before the next trip. The Chargers head to Cleveland with a defense that ranks third in power and fourth in EPA, not to mention an offense that ranks dead last in the NFL. Any wonder why the Chargers are down 6-1 this season, with those seven games averaging a generous total of just 31.8 points per game? The total here is a little inflated because we just saw a Browns offense led by Jameis Winston put up 29 points on the Baltimore Ravens. Don’t read too much into that, considering the matchup was a major stalemate for a Baltimore team that had just played on Monday night.

Tyler Fulghum’s first guess: Los Angeles Rams will win the NFC West (+500)

Then, with a 1-4 start to the season, the Rams have a day. They have won consecutive games in five days to jump to 3-4, which is just a half-game behind first in the section. The other three teams are 4-4, but the Rams recently beat the favorite, the San Francisco 49ers (-125). The price in the NFC West should be a little closer. Los Angeles simply welcomed back WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua from shock, and it’s a wrong turn of fate that the offense had its best possible matchup with Matthew Stafford having its full complement of offensive options. More reinforcements are coming in the form of two established offensive linemen in Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson. The younger defense is enjoying each age better due to the increasing skill of the youngsters in the defensive series as well. Jared Verse is a valid candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Moment. Don’t forget, Sean McVay’s team started 3-6 last month, before rising to a 10-7 record. Let’s see something similar again this month, and with San Francisco suffering from injuries, the door is open for this long-range bet.

Anita Marks’ First Guess: England Patriots Intact-Tennessee Titans UNDER 37.5 Issues

Last age: Packers (-4.5) at Jaguars. Form closed in Packers -3.5. The Packers received 30-27.

We could also get two additional quarterbacks for this Generation 9 matchup. With Drake Maye in concussion protocol and Will Levis dealing with shock. Jacoby Brissett and Mason Rudolph won’t run up the score if that’s the case. There is too much in the things written down from Maye to Brissett: Maye pushes the ball downfield and Brisset acts as duel supervisor. The Titans’ defense is better than what we saw in Generation 8 (they gave up 52 points to the Lion) and the Pats’ offense averages less than 17 points based on the matchup with Brissett at QB. The same goes for the Titans, even with Levis under center.

Seth Walder’s first guess: Detroit Lions will win the NFC North (-135)

Last age: Expenditures to win the AFC East (-700). In reality, the expenses are -2000 to win the AFC East.

The Lions are the best team in a three-team race for this section, or rather a lot, in FPI’s opinion: the style makes Detroit more than just a better farm than the Packers and Vikings. The Lions have a mid-game control within the section and now also have a key advantage over all of their warring sides: They already defeated the Vikings in Minnesota and will now face the Packers on a date in which Jordan Love gets hit closer. He left Sunday’s win over the Jaguars with a groin shock. It’s possible, of course, that the concussion could have a lingering effect on Green Bay as well. As for Minnesota, I’m skeptical that they can save their life with Detroit because their fortunes have been influenced by the defense, which is less predictable from week to week. (They’re just 14th in EPA based on offensive games.) Also, I’d like to bet on the team whose offensive plays are so deep that they could raise the money to take out David Bernard Law Montgomery. passing landing even towards the Titans.

Andre Snellings’ First Guess: Washington Commanders (-3) Over Intact York Giants

Last age: Broncos (-7.5) vs Panthers. Close form in Broncos (-12.5). The Broncos received 28-14.

If Jayden Daniels is to be had, and his ability to overcome a total duel against the Bears just one age closer to his upset suggests he should be, then the Commanders are better than the Giants. Daniels and the Commanders’ offense has come a long way since defeating the Giants by three points in the second game of the season. In their first two NFL games, Daniels’ Commanders averaged 20.5 points per game and the team finished 1-1. In the five closest games, the Commanders went 4-1 with an average scoring margin of 16.0 points per game while averaging 35.4 points per game. Daniels’ upset is said to have brought them back down to earth a bit against a tough Bears defense, but with some age to recover and potentially follow Daniels should be closer to himself in Generation 9. According to FPI, Commanders must please six Problems are at this age rather than 3, so getting ahead of the series moves allows you to make profits before the moves develop on a farmland purpose.

Pamela Maldonado: Chicago Bears UNDER 8.5 wins

Last age: Army (+12.5) vs. Notre Dame. Closed form at Notre Dame -14.5. Notre Dame was awarded 51-14.

The Bears (4-3) face several challenging sides in their extra games, including the Lions (twice), 49ers, Vikings (twice) and Packers. Chicago had the best schedule through six games and has the toughest additional schedule ahead. After a loss to Washington, it could be difficult for the Bears to rack up enough wins to clear this mark. Although the Bears’ defense has focused on some disciplines, they have had trouble developing consistent power on opposing quarterbacks, which can be a malady for high-powered offenses that are more on the agenda. Injuries to offensive linemen establishment can affect team performance.