Betting Recap – Week 9

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

18 minute read

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Overall Notes

The largest underdogs to win straight up

• Dolphins (+6, ML +220) at Cardinals, 34-31
• Saints (+3.5, ML +160) at Buccaneers, 38-3
• Bills (+3, ML +145) vs. Seahawks, 44-34
• Giants (+3, ML +140) at Washington, 23-20

The largest favorites to cover

• Packers (-6) at 49ers, 34-17 (TNF)
• Titans (-6) vs. Bears, 24-17
• Falcons (-4.5) vs. Broncos, 34-27
• Vikings (-3) vs. Lions, 34-20

The Biggest Disappointment of the Week

The Houston Texans-Jacksonville Jaguars AFC South battle was a high-scoring affair in the first half, with the Texans leading 20-16 at halftime. Then, someone twisted the offensive spigot down to a slow drip in the third quarter, and then it was nearly off completely for most of the fourth quarter. 

The score was 27-19 thanks to a PK Josh Lambo 30-yard field goal with 1:11 to go in the third quarter, as 'under' (49) bettors were hanging on by a thread. But as the fourth quarter went along, under bettors were starting to feel very good. And those laying the seven with Houston were also feeling increasingly well.

QB Jake Luton was making his first NFL start, and he did a decent enough job. In fact, the Jaguars actually had 22 first downs to 19 for the Texans, and they also edged Houston in rushing yards (115 to 107) and passing yards (297 to 267). Statistically, it was a very, very even game, and the turnover battle was 1-1, too.

The game probably should have finished the way it did, with the Jaguars falling 27-25. However, bettors on the line, as well as the total, saw a late change to the result. Luton had a 13-yard scoring scamper with 90 seconds remaining in regulation, changing the line late from a Texas cover, to a Jaguars cover, and that late score also flipped the total from an under to an over.

The Biggest Disappointment of the Week - Part II

The New York Giants-Washington Football Team (43) game, the second installment of this rivalry in 2020, went to the visitors by a 23-20 score. The game was on pace for an 'over' result with 23 total points on the board at halftime. After a so-so third quarter, giving us 33 points after 45 minutes, 'over' bettors were still on pace.

Things got crazy in the fourth quarter, as PK Dustin Hopkins opened the scoring just four seconds into the final stanza to slice the lead of the G-Men to 23-13. About four and a half minutes later Washington got the ball back, and backup QB Alex Smith, who entered for the injured QB Kyle Allen, struck for a 68-yard touchdown to WR Terry McLaurin. Not only were Washington moneyline bettors feeling much better about their prospects with just over 10 minutes to go, 'over' bettors were feeling very good, too. Unfortunately for everyone, that's where the scoring ended, and most total bettors had to settle for an unsatisfying push. At least that's how the game closed, so that's what we'll call it. If you bet the 'over' earlier in the week when the total was 41.5, 42 or 42.5, congrats.

Total Recall

The lowest totals on the board for the Sunday slate were the Baltimore Ravens-Indianapolis Colts (43) game, and the 'over' was never threatened

Well, we did get off to a quick start with a 7-7 score on the board after 15 minutes, but the nerves of 'under' bettors were quelled with just a field goal by PK Rodrigo Blankenship in the second quarter, and a lone RB Gus Edwards touchdown in the third. After 45 minutes we had just 24 total points on the board, and we didn't get our final score, 24-10, until PK Justin Tucker booted a 48-yard field goal with 2:08 to go. If only all wagers could go that easily.

The highest number on the board was the Seattle Seahawks-Buffalo Bills (55) battle, and that game certainly thrilled 'over' bettors and those who indulge in fantasy football, too. It was a end-to-end action with at least 13 total points in every single quarter. The home 'dog Bills fired out to a 14-0 lead, and they seemed to be able to keep the Seahawks at arm's length all day. After exchanging 10's in the second quarter, we had a 24-10 score at halftime, more than halfway to the 'over'. The lowest scoring quarter was the third, with 'just' 13 points, but a flurry of late activity gave us the highest scoring game of the weekend with 78 total points.

In the first two primetime games of Week 9, the over/under went 1-1. A late flurry by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter helped them push the total (48.5) over the finish line, falling 34-17 to the Green Bay Packers. The Sunday night battle between future Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Drew Brees saw 31 points on the board by halftime, all on the ledger of the Saints. A scoreless third quarter killed 'over' bettors, and we saw just 10 total points in the fourth. The Monday night battle with the New England Patriots-New York Jets (41) featured the lowest line of Week 9, but it easily and surprisingly went 'over'.

So far this season the under is 19-10 (65.5%) across 29 primetime games. In 2019, the 'under' went 31-17-1 (64.6%) during primetime games.

Looking Ahead to Week 10

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

The Colts will be itching to get back onto the field after a disappointing 24-10 loss at home to Baltimore in Week 9. After two straight weeks with three touchdown throws, QB Philip Rivers was blanked and the Colts posted their lowest scoring total of the season. They have had a great time of it over the years against the Titans, especially against the number. Indy is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings in Nashville, and 13-4 ATS in the past 17 in this series overall. The road team has covered four of the past five overall. The Titans ended up posting a 24-17 win over the Bears at home in Week 9, just covering a 6.5-point number as the 'under' connected. It was the first under for Tennessee since Week 1, as the 'over' was 5-0-1 in the previous six.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET)

The Buccaneers will be an angry bunch after getting manhandled by the rival New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football, in their home building no less, 38-3. The team's previous offensive low was 19 points, a one-point loss in Chicago. They'll look to bounce back against Carolina just like the last time they were dropped by the Saints. In Week 1, Tampa lost 34-23 at NOLA, before rebounding against the Panthers 31-17 at home as 7.5-point favorites. The Panthers lost its fourth straight game in Kansas City on Sunday, 33-31, but they covered a 10-point number. They also welcomed back RB Christian McCaffrey (ankle) for the first time since he was injured in Week 2 against, yep, Tampa. While Carolina is on an 0-4 SU run, they are 2-2 ATS during the span, and all four losses are one-score games. In fact, seven of Carolina's nine results are one-score games, with the Panthers going 2-5 SU.

Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

The Broncos were bounced in Atlanta, falling 34-27 to the Falcons. A late 21-point flurry for the Broncos helped push the total 'over', and they nearly came all the way back to cover. Denver hasn't lost consecutive games since opening 0-3 SU. The 'over' has cashed in three in a row for QB Drew Lock and the Broncos, and they're averaging 29.0 PPG across the past two. The Raiders won 31-26 on the road against the Chargers, and they have won and covered in back-to-back games for the first time since Week 1-2. They also posted an 'over' result after their first 'under' of 2020, and the over is now 6-1-1 overall. The Raiders will hope they brought the dominance over the Broncos with them to Vegas. The silver and black are 4-0 ATS in the past four home games against the Broncos, and 5-0 ATS In the previous five meetings overall. The home team is also 6-2 ATS in the past eight in this series, with the 'under' hitting in each of the past seven meetings.

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook ran roughshod over the Lions in Week 9, rolling up his first 200-yard game in the NFL. It helped Minnesota win in back-to-back game for the first time this season, and they improved to 5-1 ATS across the past six. The 'over' is also 3-0 in a season high three in a row, while going 5-1 in the past six overall. The Bears offense was flat again, falling 24-17 in Nashville against the Titans. After opening the season 5-1 SU/4-2 ATS, the Bears have dropped three in a row while going just 1-2 ATS. They're averaging a dismal 16.7 PPG in the three games, too, while allowing 24.7 PPG. The 'under' is on a 5-1 run for Chicago, too. We'll see if QB Kirk Cousins can finally get over the hump on Monday Night Football. He enters this one with an 0-9 record on Mondays posting 11 touchdowns and six interceptions in those games.

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