Week 9 of the NFL season proved to be an unpredictable period for bettors, with eleven favorites covering the spread. Despite the favorable conditions, analysts at CBS Sports posted a 2-3 record against the spread during that week. The team correctly predicted that the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks would cover, but missed on the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears, both of whom won their games but failed to beat the point spread. The Minnesota Vikings also disappointed, as quarterback Carson Wentz delivered one of the worst performances in franchise history before the team reinstated Kirk Cousins.
Looking ahead to Week 10, the Lions are positioned as a strong pick to beat the New England Patriots by 2.5 points in a game scheduled for Sunday morning in Munich. Detroit has emerged as an underrated team thanks to its defensive improvements. Under coach Kelvin Sheppard, the unit now ranks second in the league in points allowed per game at 15.5 and second in yards allowed per game at 286.3. In contrast, the Patriots have struggled offensively, with quarterback Drake Maye throwing three interceptions in a recent loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots also face injury concerns, with running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson dealing with knee issues and an unusual medical emergency, respectively.
The Buffalo Bills are expected to dominate the New York Jets by 8.5 points on Sunday afternoon. Buffalo leads the NFL in scoring with 32 points per game, while the Jets have allowed 31.8 points per game over their last four contests. The Jets have lost four straight games and are 0-8 in divisional play under head coach Aaron Glenn. The Bills' defense has been particularly effective recently, allowing only 8.0 points per game and a league-low 161.0 total yards per game in their last two matchups. The team also strengthened its secondary by acquiring safety Amani Hooker, who is tied for the league lead in interceptions with five.
In another key matchup, the Kansas City Chiefs are favored to beat the Atlanta Falcons by 3 points. Atlanta has faced a rough stretch, including a 16-point loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a 34-17 defeat by the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid. The Falcons recently traded safety Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Meanwhile, Kansas City added wide receiver Josh Downs at the trade deadline. Although quarterback Patrick Mahomes has not completed a pass of 20 or more air yards in 42 days, analysts believe Downs can help revitalize the passing attack.
The Indianapolis Colts are picked to defeat the Miami Dolphins by 3.5 points. The Dolphins, who are 1-7, will be led by rookie quarterback Kyle McCord, who is making his debut after Malik Willis was placed on injured reserve. The Colts, at 2-7, traded away receivers Josh Downs and Keenan Allen but retained star running back Jonathan Taylor. Indianapolis has a strong recent record against teams with one win or fewer, going 11-2 against the spread in such matchups.
The Cincinnati Bengals are favored by 3.5 points over the Pittsburgh Steelers in a prime-time Sunday night game. The Bengals have won four straight games and have scored 34 points in three consecutive contests. Quarterback Joe Burrow is on pace to set historical records, having become the first player in NFL history to complete 70 percent of his passes with four total touchdowns over four straight games. Wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have combined for 47 receptions, 693 yards, and eight touchdowns in the last three games. The Bengals are 7-2 in their last nine home primetime games.
Other predictions for the week include the Washington Commanders defeating the New York Giants 21-20, the Jacksonville Jaguars beating the Tennessee Titans 30-13, and the Houston Texans overcoming the Cleveland Browns 28-20. The Carolina Panthers are expected to win against the New Orleans Saints 25-23, while the Los Angeles Rams should defeat the Arizona Cardinals 23-17.
Additional games see the Green Bay Packers edging the Minnesota Vikings 20-18, the Seattle Seahawks beating the Las Vegas Raiders 23-17, the San Francisco 49ers defeating the Dallas Cowboys 30-26, and the Baltimore Ravens winning against the Los Angeles Chargers 20-17.
