Howard Bender's NFL Best Bets for Week 9: Picks, Predictions & Player Props
UPDATED: Friday, Nov. 1 at 10am ET
Welcome back to my NFL Best Bets & Prop Bets blog! We’ve got some really interesting spreads and totals this week – some seemingly suspicious lines if you know what I’m saying. With only two teams on a bye we have plenty of games from which to choose, so let’s get to the action and my NFL Week 9 Best Bets and Props.
Before we get to this week’s action, allow me to share last week’s results for my NFL picks. I believe in transparency and while Week 7 was fun, Week 8 came in about even. Actually lost a few bucks, but 6-6 on the bets posted here. Should have been 7-5 with a small profit, but I used Wan’Dale Robinson’s receiving yards instead of his receptions prop like I gave out on the Fantasy Alarm Show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. I was on the fence with both props and should have just stuck with the one. As for the rest of the week, it started off well with the Rams, but my Sunday action was all about the props and not the games which is an odd one for me. Looks like I need to spend more time in the lab, which has already begun, so it’s time to put the past in the past.
Let’s get to the start of my NFL Week 9 Best Bets and Props.
NFL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets for Thursday Night Football, 10/31
Texans vs. Jets Best Bet: Thursday, October 31st
As you all know, I hate betting the Jets, but the spread, coupled with the money line, has me on them to win this game. Everything about them screams “hot mess” but this is also a make-it-or-break it game for them and dropping to 2-7 on the year would be considered an epic disaster. Especially facing a team that has now lost its two best wide receivers and whose quarterback is notorious for playing worse on the road. If Sauce Gardner and company can’t stifle the passing attack, then there is more to blow up this team than I thought. The secondary should be strong enough to sell out a little to stop the run and if they can pull it off, they’ll give Aaron Rodgers enough to work with to eke out the victory. Just keep your fingers crossed it doesn’t have to come down to Greg Zuerlein.
- Pick: Jets -1.5 (-110 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
NFL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets for Sunday, 11/3
Lions vs. Packers Best Bet: Sunday, November 3rd
Not that any veterans practice on a Wednesday, but Jordan Love sitting out and staying on an exercise bike has me really wondering if he’s going to play. That makes this a “bet it now” for me. If Love is declared out, this spread is going to jump, so I’d rather just lay the 3.5 than see it jump to 4.5 or even 5. If they declare Love active, I don’t see the line really moving at all. Maybe we lose the hook, but I’m not playing for the push
- Pick: Lions -3.5 (-105 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
UPDATE 10/31: Love returned to practice in limited fashion on Thursday. We'll keep watching how this shakes out. I'm still in on the Lions, but if Love plays, maybe take the alt spread to get rid of the hook or do a teaser and knock it down even more.
Best NFL Week 9 Player Prop Bets
- Xavier Hutchinson over 19.5 receiving yards (-115 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
- Ka'imi Fairbairn over 7.5 kicking points (+100 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
Just as I am doing with the game bets, I will be adding in more player props as the week rolls on.
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